Influence of persistent inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the mucosal barrier of bronchi and intestines (reference review)

Abstract

The article presents the current literature data concerning the mechanisms of influence of persistent inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the state of the mucous barrier of bronchi and intestines. We consider a variety of factors that get activated during inflammation and adversely affect the progression of changes in mucosal barrier. It is shown that the progression of disorders in bronchial mucosal barrier occurs by developing peribronchial fibrosis and activation of connective tissue with the formation of irreversible airflow obstruction and remodeling of the bronchial tree. Integral interrelations of many stimuli, including growth factors and matrix-generating signals that are involved in inflammation, repair and fibrosis launch epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), which may lead to loss of epithelial cells and contribute to the destruction of the parenchyma and fibrosis. Detection of EMT in biopsy samples may be diagnostically significant and represent a new biomarker of progression of chronic lung disease.