Abstract: The technology provided herein relates to the SNPs identified as described herein, both singly and in combination, as well as to the use of these SNPs, and others in linkage disequilibrium with these SNPs, for diagnosis, prediction of clinical course, and/or treatment response for pulmonary disease such as COPD, development of new treatments for pulmonary disease such as COPD based upon comparison of the variant and normal versions of the gene or gene product, and development of cell-culture based and animal models for research and treatment of pulmonary disease such as COPD. The technology provided herein further relates to novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits for use in the diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of such disorders.

Abstract: Biomarkers of lung disease are provided. The biomarkers comprise target genomic DNA sequences having one or more CpG dinucleotides that are differentially methylated in genomic DNA of subjects having lung disease as compared to normal subjects or subjects not having lung disease. In one exemplary embodiment, methylation status profiles of 71 CpG sites mapping to 67 unique genes are significantly associated with at least one of three lung function decline measures associated with lung disease. Other biomarkers significantly associated with cigarette smoking-related lung function decline, with age-related lung function decline, and with the intensifying effects of cigarette smoking on lung function decline with age are also provided.

Abstract: The technology provided herein relates to the SNPs identified as described herein, both singly and in combination, as well as to the use of these SNPs, and others in linkage disequilibrium with these SNPs, for diagnosis, prediction of clinical course, and/or treatment response for pulmonary disease such as COPD, development of new treatments for pulmonary disease such as COPD based upon comparison of the variant and normal versions of the gene or gene product, and development of cell-culture based and animal models for research and treatment of pulmonary disease such as COPD. The technology provided herein further relates to novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits for use in the diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of such disorders.