Molecular Characteristics and Treatment of Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with COPD:

A Review Article.

Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Sep 4. Molecular Characteristics and Treatment of Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with COPD: A Review Article. Szucs B1, Szucs C2, Petrekanits M3, Varga JT4. Author information 1 PharmaFlight Research and Training Center, H-4030 Debrecen, Hungary. 2 Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary. 3 Institute of Exercise Physiology and Sport Medicine, University of Physical Education, H-1123 Budapest, Hungary. 4 Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, National Koranyi Institute for Pulmonology, H-1121 Budapest, Hungary. varga@koranyi.hu. Abstract Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) show systemic consequences, such as chronic systemic inflammation leading to changes in the airway, airway penetrability, and endothelial function. Endothelial dysfunction is characterized by a list of alterations of endothelium towards reduced vasodilation, proinflammatory state, detachment and apoptosis of endothelial cells, and development of atherosclerosis. COPD-induced endothelial dysfunction is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk. The increment of physical activities such as pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) training have a significant effect on COPD, thus, PR can be an integrative part of COPD treatment. In this narrative review the focus is on the function of endothelial inflammatory mediators [cytokines, chemokines, and cellular proteases] and pulmonary endothelial cells and endothelial dysfunction in COPD as well as the effects of dysfunction of the endothelium may play in COPD-related pulmonary hypertension. The relationship between smoking and endothelial dysfunction is also discussed. The connection between different pulmonary rehabilitation programs, arterial stiffness and pulse wave velocity (PWV) is presented. Endothelial dysfunction is a significant prognostic factor of COPD, which can be characterized by PWV. We discuss future considerations, like training programs, as an important part of the treatment that has a favorable impact on the endothelial function View Full Text