title: The role of the endothelium in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
abstract: COPD and asthma are important chronic inflammatory disorders with a high associated morbidity. Much research has concentrated on the role of inflammatory cells, such as the neutrophil, in these diseases, but relatively little focus has been given to the endothelial tissue, through which inflammatory cells must transmigrate to reach the lung parenchyma and cause damage. There is evidence that there is an abnormal amount of endothelial tissue in COPD and asthma and that this tissue and its' progenitor cells behave in a dysfunctional manner. This article reviews the evidence of the involvement of pulmonary endothelium in COPD and asthma and potential treatment options for this.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Translational Inflammation Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. C.E.Green@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Clara E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Centre for Translational Inflammation Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Alice M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000276:immunology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Asthma; Chronic bronchitis; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Emphysema; Endothelial dysfunction; Endothelium