In the article “Myofibroblast Expression In Airways And Alveoli Is Affected By Smoking And COPD", the authors, Henna M Karvonen, Siri T Lehtonen, Terttu Harju, Raija T Sormunen, Elisa Lappi-Blanco, Johanna M Mäkinen, Kirsi Laitakari, Shirley Johnson and Riitta L Kaarteenaho discussed about the role of myofibroblasts in the development of COPD. The main features of COPD are the destruction of the walls of alveoli and fibrosis of the airways. As a result, the air spaces enlarge and there is a subsequent decrease in the ability of the lungs to function normally. Myofibroblasts present in the alveoli and the airways are believed to have an effect on the development of COPD, which on the other hand, is hypothesized to be happening as a result of smoking. In a study conducted by some eminent researchers, it was observed that these myofibroblasts are present in the lung tissues and the alveoli both in normal and in diseased condition. The research was conducted taking into account the number of different cells present in the alveoli. These cells which were considered are alpha SMA, which is a type of myofibroblast and two other related cells. The quantification of the alpha SMA was also done using western blotting method. The samples were acquired from smokers, non smokers and COPD patients who were known smokers. In the cases diagnosed with COPD, the numbers of alpha SMA cells were more than the normal. This finding makes it apparent that the myofibroblasts have a role to play both in lung regeneration and in the pathogenesis of COPD. Therefore, the study indicates the role of myofibroblasts in the pathogenesis of COPD (Karvonene et al.).
The results of this study were further supported by other researchers also. They performed independent researches and revalidated the findings of this study (Milara et al.). Myofibroblasts were found to have important role in the disease process (Wang, Huang and Kuo).
Works Cited
Karvonen, Henna M et al. "Myofibroblast Expression In Airways And Alveoli Is Affected By Smoking And COPD". Respiratory Research 14.1 (2013): 84. Web. 4 Feb. 2016.
Milara, Javier et al. "Roflumilast N-Oxide Inhibits Bronchial Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition Induced By Cigarette Smoke In Smokers With COPD". Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics28.2 (2014): 138-148. Web. 4 Feb. 2016.
Wang, Chun-Hua, Tzu-Ting Huang, and Han-Pin Kuo. "Increased Circulating Fibrocytes Associated With Lung Function Decline In COPD Patients With Desaturation During 6 Minute Walk Test".Eur Respir J 46.suppl 59 (2015): PA889. Web. 4 Feb. 2016.
