Mitochondrial dysfunction in macrophages: a key to defective bacterial phagocytosis in COPD

COPD is now well recognised as a complex, devastating disease which affects the lungs of tobacco smokers in developed nations, though the contribution to the disease by biomass and fossil fuel burning cannot be ruled out, especially in less advanced or third world nations [1, 2]. An estimated 250 million people are affected worldwide as per 2016 estimates, with 3.17 million deaths annually, which is 5% of total worldwide mortality [3]. COPD stands to be the third-largest cause of death worldwide, and is often associated with respiratory infections, comorbidities and lung cancer, which further increases the risk of mortality [4].
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Editorials Source Type: research