Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): new insights on the events leading to pulmonary inflammation

The presence of a heterogeneous infiltrate of macrophages, neutrophils and CD8+ Tc1 cells is a characteristic feature in the lung of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This paper points out the contribution of different inflammatory cells and mediators to the pathogenesis and natural history of COPD. We will comment on data suggesting that CD8 cytotoxic T cells with an activated Tc1 phenotype migrate from the secondary lymphoid tissue to pulmonary tissue damaged by smoke or infective agents. On the basis of the knowledge of the pathophysiology of immunologic events, drugs that can potentially block the inflammation leading to the disability of COPD are being investigated. Long-term study in a large number of patients with COPD will be needed to verify the impact of a number of anti-inflammatory compounds in this increasingly common disease.