Respirology : official journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology
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Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) have been implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. However, the majority of studies have focused on single MMP, and there is limited information on parallel expression of MMP and their antagonists TIMP. We, therefore, investigated the serum profile of MMP 1-3, 7-9, 12 and 13, and TIMP 1-4 in COPD patients. ⋯ This study provides further evidence for increased MMP 1, 7-9, and TIMP 1 serum levels in COPD, and demonstrates for the first time serum elevation of MMP 2 and 3, and TIMP 4. The finding that circulating TIMP 4 levels are increased in COPD and the observed relationship between serum levels of MMP 1, 8 and 9, and GOLD stage requires verification in an expanded patient cohort.
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Cigarette smoking is the main risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recently, toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) was shown to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns, especially viral-derived double-stranded RNA, and to be involved in immune responses. However, the effects of cigarette smoke on TLR3 remain unclear. In this study, it was examined whether cigarette smoke affects the expression and responses of TLR3 in human macrophages. ⋯ These data suggest that cigarette smoke augments the expression and responses of TLR3 in human macrophages, and this may contribute to neutrophilic airway inflammation and parenchymal destruction in the lungs of smokers and patients with COPD.
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Moxifloxacin (MXF) has been shown to possess immunomodulatory properties in addition to its antimicrobial effects. We investigated the effects of MXF on cytokine secretion and signal transduction mechanisms in naive control and allergen-exposed airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC) stimulated with tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. ⋯ MXF suppressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by allergen-exposed rat ASMC, partly by inhibiting NF-κB and ERK activation. DXM may have additional or synergistic effects with MXF.