Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an amalgamation of degenerative lung diseases, most commonly including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD causes restricted airflow to the lungs due to inflammation, making it difficult to breathe. These issues can be exacerbated by a number of viruses, including rhinovirus.
In the United States, COPD affects over 16 million people, and its worldwide prevalence is estimated to reach 600 million cases by 2050. COPD is most common in women and typically impacts people over the age of 40. However, anyone can be affected by COPD at any stage in life.
COPD presents a host of symptoms. These include:
Currently, there is no cure for COPD, but it is treatable through steroids, bronchodilators, and other medications. Treatment options for COPD are constantly evolving, and there is mounting evidence suggesting that targeting neutrophil extracellular traps and double-stranded DNA could be key in the development of improved treatments for COPD aimed at reducing aggravation caused by respiratory viruses.
NETs and Their Impact on COPD
A recent study published in Nature Communications shows targeting NETs may be key in creating improved COPD treatments.
Some viruses can cause infections in those with COPD. This results in heightened activity of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. Consequently, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) form in the airways. NETs release double-stranded DNA, which causes a proliferation in inflammation. The study found that obstructing the formation of NETs by administering DNAse I—an enzyme that breaks down double-stranded DNA—helped mitigate the inflammation and ultimately reduced virus complications in mouse models.
Additional research is needed to explore how future treatments can target NETs and double-stranded DNA, but results from the Nature Communications study show encouraging evidence that better our understanding of COPD and how we can reduce its effects.
COPD Diagnosis and Prevention
Providers can diagnose COPD using a number of methods. Spirometry, or the lung function test, is a painless, accurate, and commonly used approach to diagnosing COPD. A spirometry can detect COPD risk by measuring the volume and speed at which a patient can blow air out of their mouth. Other approaches to diagnosing COPD include:
Who Is Most at Risk for COPD?
Anyone can develop COPD, but there are several factors that lead to heightened risk. People who smoke or have a history of smoking, who are commonly exposed to airborne pollutants, or who have a history of asthma are prone to developing COPD.
COPD can be avoided by following best practices for optimal lung health. These include:
References:
Katsoulis, O., Toussaint, M., Jackson, M. M., Mallia, P., Footitt, J., Mincham, K. T., Meyer, G. F. M., Kebadze, T., Gilmour, A., Long, M., Aswani, A. D., Snelgrove, R. J., Johnston, S. L., Chalmers, J. D., & Singanayagam, A. (2024, July 9). Neutrophil extracellular traps promote immunopathogenesis of virus-induced COPD exacerbations. Nature News. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-50197-0#Sec13
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Treatment. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/copd/treatment
Boers, E., Barrett, M., Su, J. G., Benjafield, A. V., Sinha, S., Kaye, L., Zar, H. J., Vuong, V., Tellez, D., Gondalia, R., Rice, M. B., Nunez, C. M., Wedzicha, J. A., & Malhotra, A. (2023, December 1). Global burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through 2050. JAMA network open. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10704283/
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2016, March). Your lungs and exercise. Breathe (Sheffield, England). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4818249/
A recent study found that when COPD patients experience exacerbated symptoms caused by respiratory viruses, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and double-stranded DNA could be the culprits behind the aggravated effects. Learn more about these findings and how they could impact future treatments.