A General Outlook at the Pathogenesis of COPD| Biomed Grid

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by deregulated chronic inflammation of the airways and persistent airflow obstruction, leading to emphysematous destruction of lung tissue and declining pulmonary function. There is a raise in infiltrated inflammatory cells in the lungs of COPD patients. Many processes are involved including damaged repair process that accelerates the development of the disease. Inflammatory mediators and dysfunctional airway smooth muscle (ASM) also play a role in COPD. Proteases and growth factors triggered by infectious pathogens, air pollution or second-hand smoke involved in the development of local and systemic immune response are upregulated during exacerbations. The role of innate immunity in COPD pathogenesis has been implicated in acute exacerbation that together with elevated interleukin (IL) 1-like cytokines suggests that inflammasomes play a role in the pathogenesis of COPD.