A major UK study has pin-pointed genes that help some people avoid the ill-effects of smoking, it was announced today.
The discoveries are the first to emerge from the UK Biobank, established to enable large-scale genetic studies and involving some 500,000 people.
Researchers say they have found genes never before linked to lung health.
They have also found five sections of DNA linked to people becoming healthy smokers.
They were unveiling their findings at the conference of the European Respiratory Society in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. They are also being published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
The study involved some 50,000 people. The researchers studied 28 million genetic variants in each person.
The researchers say the findings will help explain why some people keep relatively good lung health in spite of smoking – while others develop unhealthy lungs without smoking.
Researcher Professor Ian Hall, of Nottingham University, said: “The drugs we use to prevent or treat diseases target the proteins in our bodies, and our genes influence the production of proteins. Understanding how the genes are involved in disease or in addiction to tobacco, can help us design and develop better and more targeted treatments that are likely to be more effective and have fewer side effects.
"UK Biobank was a bold vision when it was set up and this study shows just how much can be achieved by using the resource. We hope to get much further detail when genetics information on all UK Biobank participants becomes available next year.”
Fellow researcher Professor Martin Tobin, of Leicester University, said: "Smoking is the biggest lifestyle risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Many, but not all, smokers develop the disease. Genetics play a big part, as they do in smoking behaviour.
"Our research helps to tell us why, paving the way for improved prevention and treatment."
Novel insights into the genetics of smoking behaviour, lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in UK Biobank. Lancet Respiratory Medicine 28 September 2015 [abstract]
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