The role of the inflammatory response in chronic bronchitis: therapeutic implications.
Chronic bronchitis is diagnosed clinically by a chronic productive cough. As implied by the term "bronchitis," chronic airway inflammation is typically found in the central airways in patients with persistent cough and mucous hypersecretion. Although the exact pathogenesis of chronic bronchitis remains unclear, bacterial colonization and the resulting inflammatory response are thought to be of central importance. The generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemotactic stimuli by the airway epithelium likely play central roles in propagating the inflammatory response in patients with chronic bronchitis. Further insights into the initiating events and underlying mechanisms that result in the clinical syndrome of chronic bronchitis will likely provide novel opportunities for therapeutic interventions.
Nelson
S
S
Section of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans 70112, USA.
Summer
W R
WR
Mason
C M
CM
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha