Macrophages and the microbiome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

COPD is a heterogeneous disease of the lungs characterised by restricted airflow. Chronic inflammation and recurrent bacterial infections are known to be important driving factors in exacerbations of this disease. Despite a marked increase in the number of alveolar macrophages present in the lungs o...

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Main Authors: Karanjot K. Sandhu, Aaron Scott, Amanda L. Tatler, Kylie B.R. Belchamber, Michael J. Cox
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Respiratory Society 2024-12-01
Series:European Respiratory Review
Online Access:http://err.ersjournals.com/content/33/174/240053.full
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author Karanjot K. Sandhu
Aaron Scott
Amanda L. Tatler
Kylie B.R. Belchamber
Michael J. Cox
author_facet Karanjot K. Sandhu
Aaron Scott
Amanda L. Tatler
Kylie B.R. Belchamber
Michael J. Cox
author_sort Karanjot K. Sandhu
collection DOAJ
description COPD is a heterogeneous disease of the lungs characterised by restricted airflow. Chronic inflammation and recurrent bacterial infections are known to be important driving factors in exacerbations of this disease. Despite a marked increase in the number of alveolar macrophages present in the lungs of COPD patients, there is evidence of reduced clearance of pathogenic bacteria, leading to recurrent infection, exacerbation and subsequent lung function decline. This is thought to be attributed to a defect in the phagocytic capability of both alveolar and monocyte-derived macrophages in COPD. In addition to this defect, there is apparent selectivity in bacterial uptake by COPD macrophages because certain pathogenic genera, such as Haemophilus, Moraxella and Streptococcus, are taken up more readily than others. The respiratory microbiome plays a key role in regulating the host immune response both in health and during chronic inflammation. In patients with COPD, there are distinct changes in the composition of the respiratory microbiome, particularly the lower respiratory tract, where dominance of clinically relevant pathogenic species is commonly observed. Whether there are links between these changes in the microbiome and dysfunctional macrophage phagocytosis has not yet been widely studied. This review aims to discuss what is currently known about these phenomena and to explore interactions between macrophages and the respiratory microbiome.
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spelling doaj-art-17ddb5cc2c6e4044879bd08d61c7e13c2025-08-20T02:57:45ZengEuropean Respiratory SocietyEuropean Respiratory Review0905-91801600-06172024-12-013317410.1183/16000617.0053-20240053-2024Macrophages and the microbiome in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseKaranjot K. Sandhu0Aaron Scott1Amanda L. Tatler2Kylie B.R. Belchamber3Michael J. Cox4 Department of Microbes, Infection and Microbiomes, Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Department of Inflammation and Ageing, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Centre for Respiratory Research, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK Department of Inflammation and Ageing, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Department of Microbes, Infection and Microbiomes, Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK COPD is a heterogeneous disease of the lungs characterised by restricted airflow. Chronic inflammation and recurrent bacterial infections are known to be important driving factors in exacerbations of this disease. Despite a marked increase in the number of alveolar macrophages present in the lungs of COPD patients, there is evidence of reduced clearance of pathogenic bacteria, leading to recurrent infection, exacerbation and subsequent lung function decline. This is thought to be attributed to a defect in the phagocytic capability of both alveolar and monocyte-derived macrophages in COPD. In addition to this defect, there is apparent selectivity in bacterial uptake by COPD macrophages because certain pathogenic genera, such as Haemophilus, Moraxella and Streptococcus, are taken up more readily than others. The respiratory microbiome plays a key role in regulating the host immune response both in health and during chronic inflammation. In patients with COPD, there are distinct changes in the composition of the respiratory microbiome, particularly the lower respiratory tract, where dominance of clinically relevant pathogenic species is commonly observed. Whether there are links between these changes in the microbiome and dysfunctional macrophage phagocytosis has not yet been widely studied. This review aims to discuss what is currently known about these phenomena and to explore interactions between macrophages and the respiratory microbiome.http://err.ersjournals.com/content/33/174/240053.full
spellingShingle Karanjot K. Sandhu
Aaron Scott
Amanda L. Tatler
Kylie B.R. Belchamber
Michael J. Cox
Macrophages and the microbiome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
European Respiratory Review
title Macrophages and the microbiome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
title_full Macrophages and the microbiome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
title_fullStr Macrophages and the microbiome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
title_full_unstemmed Macrophages and the microbiome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
title_short Macrophages and the microbiome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
title_sort macrophages and the microbiome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
url http://err.ersjournals.com/content/33/174/240053.full
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