Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an update on nuclear signaling related to inflammation and anti-inflammatory treatment.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most frequent diseases worldwide. Cigarette smoke is considered the main pathological cause of the disorder, although evidence is growing concerning other etiological factors, such as environmental pollution, biomass combustion, infections, genetic predisposition, which may explain why some individuals develop COPD with no history of smoking. Chronic inflammation and remodeling of the small airways characterize the disease at the cellular level, and oxidative stress is considered the main driving force that stands behind COPD inflammation. Recently, chromatin remodeling and epigenetic changes have been found to underlie disease pathology and progression. In this review, the authors gave a short update on the recent hypothesis and findings that may imply novel approach to pharmacotherapy of the disease, focusing on the role of glucocorticosteroids, theophylline, and antioxidants.