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Epithelial–mesenchymal transition is driven by transcriptional and post transcriptional modulations in COPD: implications for disease progression and new therapeutics

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journal contribution
posted on 2025-01-21, 03:37 authored by Mathew Eapen, P Sharma, Archana GaikwadArchana Gaikwad, Wenying LuWenying Lu, Stephen MyersStephen Myers, PM Hansbro, Sukhwinder SohalSukhwinder Sohal
COPD is a common and highly destructive disease with huge impacts on people and health services throughout the world. It is mainly caused by cigarette smoking though environmental pollution is also significant. There are no current treatments that affect the overall course of COPD; current drugs focus on symptomatic relief and to some extent reducing exacerbation rates. There is an urgent need for in-depth studies of the fundamental pathogenic mechanisms that underpin COPD. This is vital, given the fact that nearly 40%–60% of the small airway and alveolar damage occurs in COPD well before the first measurable changes in lung function are detected. These individuals are also at a high risk of lung cancer. Current COPD research is mostly centered around late disease and/or innate immune activation within the airway lumen, but the actual damage to the airway wall has early onset. COPD is the end result of complex mechanisms, possibly triggered through initial epithelial activation. To change the disease trajectory, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms in the epithelium that are switched on early in smokers. One such mechanism we believe is the process of epithelial to mesenchymal transition. This article highlights the importance of this profound epithelial cell plasticity in COPD and also its regulation. We consider that understanding early changes in COPD will open new windows for therapy.

Funding

Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation

History

Publication title

International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Volume

14

Issue

0

Pagination

1603-1610

ISSN

1178-2005

Department/School

Office of the School of Health Sciences, Health Sciences

Publisher

Dove Medical Press Ltd.

Publication status

  • Published

Place of publication

United Kingdom

Socio-economic Objectives

200199 Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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    University Of Tasmania

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