A GWAS of COPD identified CHRNA3/5 on chromosome 15 as a susceptibility locus11. CHRNA3/5 has also been associated with nicotine dependence12,13. In CHARGE, one identified SNP in this locus (rs1051730) was associated with FEV1/FVC (P=0.00070) and FEV1 (P=0.016), while the other identified SNP in this locus (rs8034191) was not associated with FEV1/FVC (P=0.11) or FEV1 (P=0.36). The nominal evidence for replication may reflect differences in study design and a potential gene-environment interaction involving smoking.
