title: [Autoimmunity in pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
abstract: For years, smoking induced inflammatory reaction, comprised mainly of neutrophils and macrophages, has been accepted to be the major component in pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. New developments in molecular and cell biology have provided scientists with new knowledge and understanding of inflammatory processes in lung. Recent reports have underlined the role of autoimmunity and T lymphocytes as a potential important factor, which takes place in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This article reviews potential mechanism of T cell mediated immune response in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology and Immunology, Institute for Biomedical Research, Kaunas University of Medicine, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. daivaurboniene@one.lt
authors.forename: Daiva
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Urboniene
authors.forename: Raimundas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sakalauskas
authors.forename: Brigita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sitkauskiene
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology