Our new article was published in #Pneumologia: from #smoking to #COPD: current approaches
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a leading cause of
death all over the world. Even though it is the most intensely studied
disease induced by cigarette smoking there are still incomplete
researches concerning its pathophysiology and treatment. So far it has
been determined the deleterious effects of the secreted molecules
diversity and some feasible therapies for their diminution.
According to
current studies more relevance gains the possible autoimmune origin of
COPD and the epigenetic modifications. The idea of autoimmunity in
smoking induced COPD began to be speculated with the discovery of
autoantibodies in patient's serum, but there are some studies who
consider antibody complexes that reside in the lung tissue as more
relevant for future research. By developing the autoimmune aspect of
COPD it will become possible to select more precise treatment
strategies. The importance of epigenetic changes in this field might be
appreciated starting with the fact of an existing connection between
epigenetic modifications induced by maternal smoking and latter COPD
development. This explains the tendency toward different drugs capable
of restoring these transformations such as deacetylation agents expected
also to prevent steroid resistance. Nevertheless smoking cessation
remains as the indispensable approach for COPD treatment and prevention.
Keywords: COPD, smoking, epigenetic changes
Keywords: COPD, smoking, epigenetic changes
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