The Vasculature as a Target in the Treatment of Pulmonary Emphysema

H.   A.   Golpon; N.   F.   Voelkel

doi:10.2174/138945006777435335

Abstract

Pulmonary emphysema, a major component of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, is a highly prevalent progressive tissue-destructive disease, with no effective treatments. The interplay between inflammation, matrix proteolysis, oxidative stress and apoptosis might account for the irreversible progression of the disease. Recent investigations have underlined the importance of the lung vasculature in the pathobiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases offering new therapeutic strategies. This review will focus on the pulmonary microvessels as a target in the treatment of pulmonary emphysema.

Keywords: Emphysema, Vasculature, Apoptosis, Oxidative Stress, VEGF

« Previous Next »