Chemokine receptors as therapeutic targets in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

LE Donnelly, PJ Barnes - Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 2006 - cell.com
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 2006cell.com
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an increasing global health problem for
which there are no effective disease-modifying therapies. COPD involves chronic
inflammation of small airways and lung parenchyma, with the recruitment of inflammatory
cells. This inflammatory-cell trafficking is orchestrated by multiple chemokines, so the
blockade of chemokine receptors with selective antagonists might be an effective anti-
inflammatory strategy in this disease. Several studies support the implication of several …
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an increasing global health problem for which there are no effective disease-modifying therapies. COPD involves chronic inflammation of small airways and lung parenchyma, with the recruitment of inflammatory cells. This inflammatory-cell trafficking is orchestrated by multiple chemokines, so the blockade of chemokine receptors with selective antagonists might be an effective anti-inflammatory strategy in this disease. Several studies support the implication of several chemokines and their receptors in COPD, including chemokine receptors CXCR2 and CXCR3, with small-molecule receptor antagonists that are in development being potential anti-inflammatory therapies. Such a pharmacological strategy would provide a mechanism with which to inhibit leukocyte recruitment and, hence, reduce the inflammatory profile in COPD, which is currently unaffected by pharmacotherapy.
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