Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a smoking-induced chronic inflammatory disease that affects mainly the lungs. In susceptible subjects airways inflammation becomes autonomous in part through pathogen-associated molecular patterns and tissue-derived damage-associated molecular patterns activating mainly Toll-like receptors expressed by multiple inflammatory cells.1
The current consensus is that the chronic inflammatory process in patients with COPD requires treatment to stop the ongoing cycle of infection, inflammation, and host tissue damage.
Author:Leo Koenderman, Edwin R. Chilvers
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