Gene expression analysis of known COPD loci revealed its varied levels by disease severity

Numerous genome studies on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have revealed hundreds of associated loci. However, understanding of COPD pathogenesis in the context of biological pathway, especially for disease severity, has remained unclear. In this study, we studied gene expression patterns of known COPD loci among mild, moderate, and severe COPD patients. Although expression levels of 16 known genes available from RNA-seq were not significantly different across COPD severity by comparing varied levels of COPD severity $(\mathrm{P}\gt0.05)$, DIP2B showed higher gene expression mean changes in mild than severe group. Taken together, this study demonstrated different gene expression changes by COPD severity among known COPD loci. The results will be valuable scientific evidence to enhance our understanding of COPD risk, severity, and related pathogenesis.