The vasculature as a target in the treatment of pulmonary emphysema.
Pulmonary emphysema, a major component of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, is a highly prevalent progressive tissue-destructive disease, with no effective treatments. The interplay between inflammation, matrix proteolysis, oxidative stress and apoptosis might account for the irreversible progression of the disease. Recent investigations have underlined the importance of the lung vasculature in the pathobiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases offering new therapeutic strategies. This review will focus on the pulmonary microvessels as a target in the treatment of pulmonary emphysema.
Golpon
H A
HA
Department of Pneumology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str, Hannover,Germany.
Voelkel
N F
NF
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D019141:Respiratory System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D019141:Respiratory System Agents