Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: histopathology, inflammation and potential therapies.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major worldwide health burden with increasing morbidity, mortality and health care cost. It is a slowly progressive chronic inflammatory condition that affects the conducting airways (both large and small) and lung parenchyma. In COPD, inflammation is evident early on even in mild disease and increases with disease severity. Recent advances in our knowledge demonstrate, by comparison with asthma, the distinctive, "abnormal" or exaggerated inflammatory processes involved in the pathogenesis of COPD and thus identify novel therapeutic targets that could potentially impact on disease progression. The present review will focus on what is known of the abnormal inflammatory response of COPD in different regions of the conducting airways and lung. Novel, potentially promising approaches to therapy are presented.
Molfino
Néstor A
NA
Otsuka Maryland Research Institute, Rockville, MD, USA. nestorm@otsuka.com
Jeffery
Peter K
PK
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018450:Disease Progression; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases