Scientists say the discovery of a triggering enzyme in the lung tissue of people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could lead to a new treatment for the inflammatory disorder. Elevated levels of the newly uncovered enzyme, called chymase-1 or CMA-1, were found in tissue isolated from the lungs…

Infection with rhinovirus, a virus that causes the common cold, combined with long-term exposure to cigarette smoke — two risk factors associated with symptom worsening in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — can significantly affect lung structure, a study in a mouse model has found. The study,…

A Chinese remedy called Xuanbai Chengqi decoction, or XBCQ, used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), modulated immune cells, improved lung function, and reduced lung inflammation by potentially changing the gut microbiome of mice with the disease, a study suggested. “XBCQ could alleviate COPD exacerbations by reshaping the gut…

A blood test to measure levels of the immune signaling protein interleukin-32 (IL-32) may be a useful biomarker to diagnose and assess the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new study suggests.  The study, “…

A new class of kinase inhibitors shows promising anti-inflammatory effects in airway cells of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a collaborative research study. The study, “Superior anti-inflammatory effects of narrow-spectrum kinase inhibitors in airway smooth muscle cells from subjects with chronic obstructive…

A sugar molecule called keratan sulfate could play a protective role against inflammation and emphysema associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a new study. The study, “A Keratan Sulfate Disaccharide Prevents Inflammation And The Progression Of Emphysema In Murine Models,” was published in the American…