Association of Polymorphisms of the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products Gene with COPD in the Chinese Population

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a cell surface molecule of the immunoglobulin superfamily that binds diverse endogenous ligands involved in the development of chronic diseases and inflammatory damage. A growing body of evidence has suggested that RAGE is involved in the development and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The present study investigated the existence of an association among three polymorphisms (-374T/A, -429T/C, and G82S) of the RAGE gene with the risk of COPD in the Chinese population. The RAGE genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 216 patients with COPD and 239 age-matched healthy individuals. Our study demonstrated that the frequencies of the GS genotype and the S allele in the G82S mutation were significantly higher in COPD patients than in controls (odds ratios [OR]=1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-2.50, p=0.0098 and OR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.06-1.91, p=0.023, respectively). Further stratification analysis by smoking status revealed that the presence of the GS genotype conferred a higher risk of developing COPD in current smokers (p=0.044). In contrast, mutations at -374T/A and -429T/C did not demonstrate any association with COPD, even after taking into account the patients' smoking history. Our study provides preliminary evidence that the G82S polymorphism in the RAGE gene is associated with an increased risk of COPD and that the GS genotype of the G82S variant is a risk factor for COPD in the Chinese population.