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Article in Japanese
Abstract
Topics Series Obstructive Lung Disease
Recent progress in research of pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine
ABSTRACT
Research on the mechanism of smoke-induced emphysema has progressed in recent years. Smoking itself elicits a variety of inflammations in the lungs, which leads to apoptosis of lung structural cells. Smoking further activates the production of proteinases, destructs elastic fibers of alveoli, and impairs the repair of lung structure. Aging of the lungs facilitates the process. Many unsolved questions remain in the pathogenesis of emphysema and COPD.
KEYWORDS
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Smoking Protease Oxidative stress Aging
AJRS, 3(3): 323-328, 2014
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