Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a leading cause of death and disability, but has
only recently been extensively explored from a cellular and molecular perspective. There is
a chronic inflammation that leads to fixed narrowing of small airways and alveolar wall
destruction (emphysema). This is characterised by increased numbers of alveolar
macrophages, neutrophils and cytotoxic T‐lymphocytes, and the release of multiple
inflammatory mediators (lipids, chemokines, cytokines, growth factors). A high level of …

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major and increasing global health
problem that is now a leading cause of death. COPD is associated with a chronic
inflammatory response, predominantly in small airways and lung parenchyma, which is
characterized by increased numbers of macrophages, neutrophils, and T lymphocytes. The
inflammatory mediators involved in COPD have not been clearly defined, in contrast to
asthma, but it is now apparent that many lipid mediators, inflammatory peptides, reactive …