Authors: Rahman, Irfan; Yao, Hongwei; de Boer, Willem I.

Source: Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 1, February 2008 , pp. 57-68(12)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global health problem. COPD is associated with the progressive pulmonary inflammation and destruction of lung parenchyma (emphysema) that relate to disease severity. Therefore, it is anticipated that drugs that reduce pulmonary inflammation will provide effective, disease modifying therapy for COPD. Several specific therapies are directed against the influx of inflammatory cells into the airways and lung parenchyma that occurs in COPD; these include agents directed against cytokines and chemokines. Broad-range antiinflammatory drugs are now in phase III development for COPD; they include inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4). Other drugs that inhibit cell signaling include inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor- κB (NF-κB), HDAC2 modifiers and phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K). There is also a search for inhibitors of proteinases and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) to prevent lung destruction and the development of emphysema. This review highlights the studies on novel or potential anti-inflammatory agents that might be considered in the development of new future therapies for COPD.

Keywords: NF-κB; MAP kinase; MMPs; cigarette smoke; cytokines; antagonists

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157339808783497873

Publication date: 2008-02-01

More about this publication?

• Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews publishes frontier reviews on all the latest advances on respiratory diseases and its related areas e.g. pharmacology, pathogenesis, clinical care, and therapy. The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles dedicated to clinical research in the field. The journal is essential reading for all researchers and clinicians in respiratory medicine.

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Medicine
• By this author: Rahman, Irfan ;  Yao, Hongwei ;  de Boer, Willem I.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers