Exploring Potential COPD Immunosuppression Pathways Causing Increased Susceptibility for MAC Infections among COPD Patients.

Shafaa Munjal,Jingya Gao,Vishwanath Venketaraman,Shalok Munjal

doi:10.3390/clinpract11030077

Abstract

Although there has been a drastic decline in the cases of Tuberculosis in the United States, the prevalence of infections caused by Mycobacterium avium Complex (MAC) has steadily increased in the past decades. Mycobacterium avium (M. avium) is one of the most abundant microorganisms in the MAC species. The mycobacterium genus is divided into two major groups: tuberculosis causing mycobacteria and non-tuberculous mycobacteria. MAC is most prominent among the non-tuberculous mycobacteria. MAC is an opportunistic pathogen that is present in soil, water, and droplets in the air. MAC infections can result in respiratory disease and can disseminate in affected patients. MAC infections are especially prevalent in patients with preexisting respiratory conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD is one of the most common lung conditions in the world with the primary cause being smoking in developed countries. COPD involves chronic inflammation of lung tissue resulting in increased susceptibility to infection. There is a lack of research regarding the pathophysiology that leads COPD patients to be susceptible to MAC infection. Our review paper therefore aims to investigate how the pathogenicity of MAC bacteria and immune decline seen in COPD patients leads to a greater susceptibility to MAC infection among COPD patients.

Highlights

Published: 9 September 2021Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the pulmonary system that results in obstructive airflow from the lung tissue
The objective of this review is to synthesize the current literature on Mycobacterium avium Complex (MAC) susceptibility among COPD patients and discuss some possible physiological and metabolic pathways that result in this increased susceptibility among
The focus of this review is to explore the connection between M. avium and COPD

Summary

Introduction

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the pulmonary system that results in obstructive airflow from the lung tissue. Patients with COPD exhibit symptoms of breathing strain, mucus filled sputum, wheezing, chest tightness, fatigue, and increased cough. COPD incidence is directly linked to chronic exposure to pulmonary irritants such as pollution, particulate matter, and most commonly smoking. COPD is broadly classified into Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis. Emphysema is a condition where the lung alveoli suffer extensive damage, while Chronic Bronchitis is a long-term inflammation of bronchioles and bronchi that transport air to and from the alveoli. Around 6.6% of the US population or 16.4 million US individuals suffer from COPD. Patients with a history of lung disease such as COPD have an increased risk of Mycobacterium avium Complex (MAC) colonization [1,2].

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