Smokers protected from lung disease by genetic differences, study suggests

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Genes are the reason why some smokers never develop lung disease despite non-smokers or those who have never smoked in their life can acquire Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

A research funded by the Medical Research Council from the University of Nottingham and the University of Leicester have discovered the genetic differences of why lifetime smokers seem to have healthy lungs and never develop lung disease. The study was published in the journal of the Lancet Respiratory Medicine and presented Monday at the European Respiratory Society meeting.

For their study, researchers analyzed the data of more than 50,000 volunteers from UK's Biobank project. They found that some people with "good" DNA profiles had a lower risk of developing COPD and why people with "bad" DNA have a higher risk for the disease, which explains why some smokers never develop it despite having smoked their life.

According to the report by The Guardian, the findings also helped the researchers determine the genetic differences of people who are predisposed to being addicted with cigarettes. The good news is it could also help develop new treatment methods that could help people stop smoking.

"Smoking is the biggest lifestyle risk factor for COPD. Many, but not all, smokers develop the disease. Genetics play a big part, as they do in smoking behaviour," said lead researcher Martin Tobin of the University of Leicester. "Our research helps to tell us why, paving the way for improved prevention and treatment. Stopping smoking is the best way to prevent smoking-related diseases such as COPD, cancers and heart disease."

According to Professor Ian Hall, lead researcher from the University of Nottingham, stated that the results of the study can be used to create a more effective treatment plan with lesser side effects.

"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," said Hall, in the press release published via Eureka Alert.

According to Mayo Clinic, COPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease which is commonly caused by cigarette smoke, second hand smoke, pollution and fumes, and asthma. Some symptoms of COPD include cough, wheezing, difficult breathing and sputum production. Additionally, COPD can contribute to heightened increase of heart disease, lung cancer, and other conditions.