title: Chemokine receptors as therapeutic targets in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an increasing global health problem for which there are no effective disease-modifying therapies. COPD involves chronic inflammation of small airways and lung parenchyma, with the recruitment of inflammatory cells. This inflammatory-cell trafficking is orchestrated by multiple chemokines, so the blockade of chemokine receptors with selective antagonists might be an effective anti-inflammatory strategy in this disease. Several studies support the implication of several chemokines and their receptors in COPD, including chemokine receptors CXCR2 and CXCR3, with small-molecule receptor antagonists that are in development being potential anti-inflammatory therapies. Such a pharmacological strategy would provide a mechanism with which to inhibit leukocyte recruitment and, hence, reduce the inflammatory profile in COPD, which is currently unaffected by pharmacotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Airways Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6LY, UK.
authors.forename: Louise E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine