Novel insights into the aetiology and pathophysiology of increased airway inflammation during COPD exacerbations.
Airway inflammation increases during acute exacerbations of COPD. Extrinsic factors, such as airway infections, increased air pollution, and intrinsic factors, such as increased oxidative stress and altered immunity may contribute to this increase. The evidence for this and the potential mechanisms by which various aetiological agents increase inflammation during COPD exacerbations is reviewed. The pathophysiologic consequences of increased airway inflammation during COPD exacerbations are also discussed. This review aims to establish a cause and effect relationship between etiological factors of increased airway inflammation and COPD exacerbations based on recently published data. Although it can be speculated that reducing inflammation may prevent and/or treat COPD exacerbations, the existing anti-inflammatory treatments are modestly effective.
Tsoumakidou
Maria
M
Department of Thoracic Medicine, Medical School, University of Crete, Greece. tsoumak@yahoo.gr
Siafakas
Nikolaos M
NM
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species