HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wouters, E. F. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wouters, E. F. M.

Local and Systemic Inflammation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Emiel F. M. Wouters, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Pulmonary Diseases, University Hospital Maastricht, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 As Maastricht, The Netherlands. E-mail: ewo{at}ms-azm-3.azm.nl

There is growing evidence for systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Increased circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins occur in stable disease, and COPD exacerbations are notably associated with pulmonary and systemic inflammation. Although the course of inflammation is determined by the balance between pro- and antiinflammatory mediators, in COPD most attention has focused on the former. During exacerbation, however, upregulation of antiinflammatory markers occurs. The main causes of systemic inflammation in COPD remain to be elucidated, although systemic hypoxia is a candidate factor. Although a relationship between lung and systemic inflammation has been suggested, experimental evidence indicates no direct correlations in the regulation of inflammation in the pulmonary and systemic compartments. Longitudinal studies are needed to unravel the role of systemic inflammation in the course of COPD, to analyze the role of acute exacerbations on the chronicity of inflammation, and to evaluate the response of systemic inflammation to different interventions. Emphasis should be placed on the identification of signaling pathways induced and/or altered in skeletal muscle by inflammation, as muscle wasting is a prominent feature of chronic inflammatory disease conditions and contributes significantly to impaired physical functioning and health status in COPD.

Key Words: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • cytokines • immune response • systemic inflammation

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. A. Falk, O. A. Minai, and Z. Mosenifar Inhaled and Systemic Corticosteroids in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Proceedings of the ATS, May 1, 2008; 5(4): 506 - 512. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. H. Brekke, T. Omland, S. H. Holmedal, P. Smith, and V. Soyseth Troponin T elevation and long-term mortality after chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation Eur. Respir. J., March 1, 2008; 31(3): 563 - 570. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Fuschillo, A. De Felice, and G. Balzano Mucosal inflammation in idiopathic bronchiectasis: cellular and molecular mechanisms Eur. Respir. J., February 1, 2008; 31(2): 396 - 406. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Cazzola, W. MacNee, F. J. Martinez, K. F. Rabe, L. G. Franciosi, P. J. Barnes, V. Brusasco, P. S. Burge, P. M. A. Calverley, B. R. Celli, et al. Outcomes for COPD pharmacological trials: from lung function to biomarkers Eur. Respir. J., February 1, 2008; 31(2): 416 - 469. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Doucet, A. P. Russell, B. Leger, R. Debigare, D. R. Joanisse, M.-A. Caron, P. LeBlanc, and F. Maltais Muscle Atrophy and Hypertrophy Signaling in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., August 1, 2007; 176(3): 261 - 269. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Ischaki, G. Papatheodorou, E. Gaki, I. Papa, N. Koulouris, and S. Loukides Body Mass and Fat-Free Mass Indices in COPD: Relation With Variables Expressing Disease Severity Chest, July 1, 2007; 132(1): 164 - 169. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. D. Sin and S. F. P. Man Pharmacotherapy for Mortality Reduction in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Proceedings of the ATS, September 1, 2006; 3(7): 624 - 629. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.-C. L. Machado, J. A. Krishnan, S. A. Buist, A. L. Bilderback, G. P. Fazolo, M. G. Santarosa, F. Queiroga Jr., and W. M. Vollmer Sex Differences in Survival of Oxygen-dependent Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 1, 2006; 174(5): 524 - 529. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. M. Fabbri, F. Luppi, B. Beghe, and K. F. Rabe Update in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2005. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., May 15, 2006; 173(10): 1056 - 1065. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. I. Rennard Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Linking Outcomes and Pathobiology of Disease Modification Proceedings of the ATS, May 1, 2006; 3(3): 276 - 280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. R. Chapman, D. M. Mannino, J. B. Soriano, P. A. Vermeire, A. S. Buist, M. J. Thun, C. Connell, A. Jemal, T. A. Lee, M. Miravitlles, et al. Epidemiology and costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Eur. Respir. J., January 1, 2006; 27(1): 188 - 207. [Full Text] [PDF]