Models of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a review of current status

• Published in: Drug discovery today. Disease models 2004-12, Vol.1 (3), p.319-328
• Main Authors: Fox, J. Craig, Fitzgerald, Mary F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1740-6757; 1740-6757
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ddmod.2004.10.003

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death globally and the prevalence is rising. Current therapies for this largely smoking-related disease only provide symptomatic relief, with smoking cessation currently the most effective intervention for reducing the progressive decline in lung function seen in COPD patients. Disease models have helped understand the pathogenesis of COPD in recent times and provide a platform to discover and evaluate new therapeutic strategies. Alastair G. Stewart – University of Melbourne, Australia The incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is rising worldwide as a consequence of the increasing ‘development’ of nations with previously lower prevalence of tobacco smoking. This major health problem has received surprisingly little research attention, but this oversight is now being redressed. In this article, Mary Fitzgerald and her colleague, Craig Fox, describe several animal models of COPD and identify some of the challenges for refining these models.