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Shared and Distinct Genetic Influences Among Different Measures of Pulmonary Function

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Abstract

We examined shared and distinct genetic influences among standard measures of pulmonary functions: ratio of forced expiratory volume at 1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) and percent predicted values for forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV1%p), forced expiratory flow (FEFmax%p), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV%p) in 978–1,048 middle-aged (mean age = 55 years) male–male twins from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. A common latent factor (h2 = 0.30) accounted for the correlations among these measures. This factor accounted for 54–81 % of the heritability of FEV1%p, FEFmax%p and MVV%p, but only explained 16 % of the heritability of FEV1/FVC. The remaining heritability of FEV1/FVC was explained by genetic influences independent of the common factor. Our findings suggest that while a common latent phenotype accounts for the relationships among different pulmonary function measures, the majority of genetic influences underlying FEV1/FVC—an index of pulmonary obstruction—are distinct from those underlying other pulmonary function measures.

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Acknowledgments

The Cooperative Studies Program of the Office of Research & Development of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has provided financial support for the development and maintenance of the Vietnam Era Twin (VET) Registry. All statements, opinions, or views are solely of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government, the NIA, or the NIH. Most importantly, the authors gratefully acknowledge the continued cooperation and participation of the members of the VET Registry and their families. Without their contribution, this research would not have been possible. We also appreciate the time and energy of many staff and students on the VETSA projects. This work was supported by Grants from NIH/NIA (F32AG039954, R01AG018386, R01AG018384, R01AG022381, and R01AG022982). It was also, in part, the result of work supported with resources of the VA San Diego Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 3077 CNPRU, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Terrie Vasilopoulos & Kristen C. Jacobson

  2. Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Michael D. Grant, Rosemary Toomey & Michael J. Lyons

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Carol E. Franz, Matthew S. Panizzon & William S. Kremen

  4. Department of Biostatistics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Hong Xian

  5. VA St. Louis Healthcare System, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Hong Xian

  6. Center for Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA

    William S. Kremen

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  1. Terrie Vasilopoulos
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  2. Michael D. Grant
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  3. Carol E. Franz
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  4. Matthew S. Panizzon
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  5. Hong Xian
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  8. William S. Kremen
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  9. Kristen C. Jacobson
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Correspondence to Terrie Vasilopoulos.

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Edited by Deborah Finkel.

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Vasilopoulos, T., Grant, M.D., Franz, C.E. et al. Shared and Distinct Genetic Influences Among Different Measures of Pulmonary Function. Behav Genet 43, 141–150 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-012-9582-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-012-9582-6

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