Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous lung disease that is associated with long-term cigarette smoking and represents the third-leading cause of death worldwide (Quaderi and Hurst, 2018). The cellular and molecular determinants underpinning the pathogenesis of COPD remain to be fully understood, but the current thought is that long-term inflammation serves as a driver of remodeling and parenchymal destruction in the proximal airways and distal lung tissue leading to the disease states of chronic bronchitis and emphysema (Hogg et al., 2004). Current disease-modifying therapies are limited in their ability to halt the progression of COPD and in relieving symptoms of dyspnea and airflow obstruction.
Recent investigations have uncovered the functional role for vascular endothelial cells (ECs) in organ regeneration and repair in multiple model systems (Rafii et al., 2016; Augustin and Koh, 2017). ECs maintain highly adaptable cellular functions that promote the development of organ-specific vascular niches that are critical to the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Through the release of growth factors, known as angiocrine factors, vascular ECs coordinate propagation, patterning, and behavior of adjacent parenchymal and mesenchymal cells within a given tissue type (Rafii et al., 2016; Cao et al., 2014; Ding et al., 2011; Cao et al., 2017; Ding et al., 2014). By contrast, maladaptive ECs that emerge from environments of chronic cellular stresses and injury drive the development of fibrosis or tumorigenesis (Cao et al., 2014). Lung-specific endothelium has been shown to encourage alveologenesis following injury through the release of known angiocrine factors, such as metalloprotease-14 (MMP-14) and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4; Ding et al., 2011; Lee et al., 2014). As such, harnessing the regenerative potential of the endothelium through delivery of healthy ECs has therapeutic potential in diseased lungs.
This is a wonderful study. If only they could have the funding that the Covid vaccines have received and it could mean treatment for millions of people around the world.
I was watching a long covid programme last week and they said they’re trialling a system where they take blood, spin it to separate the different cells and infuse them with oxygen and put back in, (sorry, can’t recall the exact cell type or correct terms) and they’re hoping it re-energises the lungs and I thought some of us could probably benefit from that too as I’m sure we will have lots of benefits from covid research 🤞
Not all people who have COPD have been smokers. I started as an Asthmatic, but then Mum and her Mum were Asthmatic. As a very young person, I went into the Children's Hospital and was then moved to the Isolation Hospital when the NHS did not allow parents to visit. That info is missing from my medical record, The first record, aged 7 has me diagnosed as having Bronchiectasis. No one was told.
In my teenage years in the 1960s, I went with my school friends to a disc, once, the cigarette smoke made me cough so I never returned and NEVER smoked a cigarette.
In my mid-40s U was told I had OSA and Bronchiectasis which together with Asthma meant I have COPD!
You are correct not all COPD sufferers have smoked. There are other causes like pollutants that we breathe in. Dust, fibres from the rag trade, chemical fumes and even using bleach on a regular basis. Breathing in anything that is not clean fresh air is detrimental to the lungs
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Covid 19 and emphysema
Emphysema diagnosed today
Brother in hospital with pulmonary fibrosis 
pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Assessment 
