Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease Biology Essay
A schematic representation of the biology of an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Most literature focuses on microorganisms as the cause of exacerbations. Using molecular biology techniques it is now possible to identify microorganisms from respiratory secretions in most exacerbations, but there are numerous. Biomarkers are defined as “characteristics that are objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacological responses to a therapeutic intervention” and are increasingly investigated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD for several important reasons. The potential role of cytokines in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD was highlighted in a frequently cited article in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, showing increased concentrations of TNF-α and IL-8 CXC chemokine ligand CXCL 8 in induced sputum from patients with COPD are demonstrated compared to Introduction. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD is defined by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease GOLD as a common, preventable, and treatable disease characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities commonly caused . disease COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide. deaths. The treatment of COPD has increasingly become an important part of the treatment. Chronic means persistent. Obstructive describes the prevention of normal airflow to the lungs. Pulmonary means it has to do with the lungs. It is a long-term illness or disease. COPD is now the preferred name for the type of airway obstruction that was historically called chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or chronic obstructive airway disease. Epithelial exposure to inhaled noxious particles and gases can have deleterious effects on the host defense function of the airway epithelium. This is seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD, a disease involving impaired epithelial function and epithelial remodeling caused by smoking and exposure to other substances. The current paradigm for the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is that chronic airflow limitation results from an abnormal inflammatory condition. response to inhaled particles and gases in the lungs. Airspace inflammation appears to be different in susceptible smokers and there is a predominance of CD8 T lymphocytes,