How Cell Death Processes Work in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Over 400 million people globally are currently impacted by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• COPD is characterized by persistent airflow obstruction and a tendency to worsen over time.
• Key cells involved in COPD pathogenesis include alveolar epithelial cells, airway epithelial cells, and various inflammatory cell types.
• Interactions among these cells can lead to increased lung damage and inflammation, which are central to COPD development.
• The review discusses seven programmed cell death processes—apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, cuproptosis, and disulfidptosis—and their roles in COPD initiation.
• Clinical treatment strategies for COPD may be informed by understanding the regulation of programmed cell death.

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