State of the art. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of alveolar destruction in emphysema: an evolutionary perspective.

ABSTRACT: Emphysema consists of a unique pattern of alveolar destruction, resulting in marked airspace enlargement with reduction of alveolar capillary exchange area. Classical concepts of the pathogenesis of emphysema have relied on the paradigm set by the inflammation and protease/antiprotease imbalance. We propose herein that cigarette smoke constitutes an environmental hazard that causes alveolar destruction by the interaction of apoptosis, oxidative stress, and protease/antiprotease imbalance. We draw a parallel between organismal aging, organ structural maintenance, and the damage resulting from chronic cigarette smoke inhalation. The stochastic interaction between environmental hazards and the effort of an organism or a particular organ to fend off these hazards results in the accumulation of

SUBMITTER: Tuder RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2647641 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature