ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights some of the major genome-wide studies of asthma susceptibility. It reviews genome-wide association study of asthma severity and related endophenotypes. The chapter focuses on new developments in pharmacogenetics research. The importance of identifying gene variants that interact with lung function in asthma is that lung function genes appear to represent an additional risk for future lung function decline and asthma severity. Glucocorticoid steroids are currently the most common anti-inflammatory asthma therapy. In addition, Tantisira et al have also shown that a variation in the corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptor 1 gene is associated with an improved lung function response to corticosteroids in three asthma clinical trial populations. An analysis of asthma severity can include intermediate phenotypes, such as measures of pulmonary function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, biomarkers, and responses to asthma therapy. Using novel variants that were identified in comprehensively phenotyped studies, we may more effectively develop a personalized therapy for all individuals with asthma.
