BACKGROUND: It is reported that the iron-responsive element-binding protein 2 (IREB2) gene rs2568494 polymorphism might be associated with COPD risk. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to collect all eligible studies to review the association between IREB2 gene rs2568494 polymorphism and susceptibility to COPD.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried out a comprehensive document search of electronic databases of PubMed, MEDLIN, Web of Science, and included 4 eligible studies that examined the association between IREB2 rs2568494 polymorphism and COPD susceptibility. We performed a meta-analysis of these studies based on IREB2 rs2568494 genotypes.
RESULTS: After meta-analysis with fixed or random effects, no significant associations were found under the heterozygote model (GG/GA; OR=0.908, 95%CI: 0.790–1.043; P=0.172), homozygote model (GG/AA; OR=0.880, 95%CI: 0.497–1.557; P=0.661), dominant model (GG/AA+GA; OR=0.941, 95%CI: 0.748–1.182; P=0.599), or allelic model (G/A; OR=0.953, 95%CI: 0.770–1.179; P=0.655). However, we found a significant correlation under the recessive model (AA/GA+GG; OR=1.384, 95%CI: 1.092–1.755; P=0.007).
CONCLUSIONS: The current results revealed that there was significant association between IREB2 gene rs2568494 polymorphism with susceptibility to COPD; the presence of allelic A might a genetic factor conferring susceptibility to COPD.

Keywords: Case-Control Studies, Alleles, Aged, Demography, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Humans, Iron Regulatory Protein 2 - genetics, Male, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics, Publication Bias, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - genetics, Risk Factors