Synthesis Of COPD

Recently cellular and molecular mechanisms of COPD have been extensively explored. The accumulation of alveolar macrophages, neutrophils and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes has been detected. Various lipids, cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and other inflammatory mediators are released. The increased oxidative stress and the activation of several elastolytic enzymes, such as serine proteases, cathepsins and matrix metalloproteinases, amplify the inflammation.
Macrophages play an important role in COPD, which are activated, for example, by cigarette smoke. Macrophages release many inflammatory mediators and provide a cellular mechanism which links smoking with inflammation in COPD. Some cellular mechanisms have been intensively studied. A short