title: Macrolides: a promising pharmacologic therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: Chronic inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there are no effective anti-inflammatory pharmacologic therapies available for COPD so far. Recent evidence suggests that an immunologic mechanism has a role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Macrolides possess anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects may be helpful in the treatment of COPD. Several clinical studies have shown that long-term use of macrolides reduces the frequency of COPD exacerbations. However, the subgroups that most effectively respond to long-term treatment of macrolides still need to be determined. The potential adverse events to individuals and the microbial resistance in community populations raises great concern on the long-term use of macrolides. Thus, novel macrolides have anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulating effects, but without antibiotic effects, and are promising as an anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of COPD. In addition, the combination of macrolides and other anti-inflammatory pharmacologic agents may be a new strategy for the treatment of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Shilin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Shuangyong road, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoning
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D018942:Macrolides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018942:Macrolides
keywords: COPD; inflammation; macrolides; treatment