Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most important causes of death worldwide, and in addition to its impact on the patient's health, it poses a major socioeconomic burden. Tobacco smoke, indoor cooking, and air pollution are major triggers of the disease. This article summarizes evidence for the concept that lung microvascular molecular alterations can be a driver of lung emphysema. If findings from preclinical models allow a transfer to the human situation, this concept can offer new approaches for curative treatment of lung emphysema.
Keywords
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- inducible nitric oxide synthase
- lung regeneration
- pulmonary hypertension
- soluble guanylate cyclase