Lung epithelium damage in COPD – An unstoppable pathological event?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common term for alveolar septal wall destruction resulting in emphysema, and chronic bronchitis accompanied by conductive airway remodelling. In general, this disease is characterized by a disbalance of proteolytic/anti-proteolytic activity, augmented inflammatory response, increased oxidative/nitrosative stress, rise in number of apoptotic cells and decreased proliferation. As the first responder to the various environmental stimuli, epithelium occupies an important position in different lung pathologies, including COPD. Epithelium sequentially transitions from the upper airways in the direction of the gas exchange surface in the alveoli, and every cell type possesses a distinct role in the maintenance of the homeostasis. Basically, a thick ciliated structure of the airway epithelium has a major function in mucus secretion, whereas, alveolar epithelium which forms a thin barrier covered by surfactant has a function in gas exchange. Following this line, we will try to reveal whether or not the chronic bronchitis and emphysema, being two pathological phenotypes in COPD, could originate in two different types of epithelium. In addition, this review focuses on the role of lung epithelium in COPD pathology, and summarises underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutics.