American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Feb 2016
ReviewBridging Lung Development with COPD: Relevance of Developmental Pathways in COPD Pathogenesis.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic airflow limitation. This generic term encompasses emphysema and chronic bronchitis, two common conditions, each having distinct but also overlapping features. ⋯ This leads to the concept that tissue regeneration required stimulation of signaling pathways that normally operate during development. We undertook a review of the literature to outline the contribution of developmental insults and genes in the occurrence and pathogenesis of COPD, respectively.