Year: 2021
Type: review
Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lung disease becoming one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity globally. The significant risk factors for COPD are exposure to harmful particles such as cigarette smoke, biomass smoke, and air pollution. Pulmonary emphysema belongs to COPD and is characterized by a unique alveolar destruction pattern resulting in marked airspace enlargement. Alveolar type II (ATII) cells have stem cell potential; they proliferate and differentiate to alveolar type I cells to restore the epithelium after damage. Oxidative stress causes premature cell senescence that can contribute to emphysema development. MiRNAs regulate gene expression, are essential for maintaining ATII cell homeostasis, and their dysregulation contributes to this disease development. They also serve as biomarkers of lung diseases and potential therapeutics. In this review, we summarize recent findings on miRNAs' role in alveolar epithelial cells in emphysema.
Source: Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
Authors: Hassan Hayek, Beata Kosmider, Karim Bahmed
Institution: Temple University
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,660
OpenAlex ID: W3202873172