Author(s)

Eric Cho

Spartan Health Sciences University, Vieux Fort, St. Lucia, Eastern Caribbean Island.

The metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes are found to be more frequent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The chronic systemic inflammation orchestrated by macrophages constitutes one critical pathophysiological process underlying both acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) and its metabolic complications such as obesity and diabetes. The cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling controlled by phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 is a pivotal intracellular modulator for macrophages functions in immune inflammatory response underlying AECOPD as well as obesity and diabetes. Targeting PDE4/cAMP signaling has been suggested to be effective in treating AECOPD or the metabolic disorders of obesity and diabetes. It is therefore reasonable to hypothesize that the chronic systemic inflammation can be a critical link between AECOPD and the metabolic disorders and targeting the PDE4/cAMP signaling can be effective to block this link between AECOPD and the associated metabolic complications.

COPD, Metabolic Disorders, PDE4, cAMP, Macrophages

Cho, E. (2015) Targeting Phosphodiesterase 4 to Block the Link between Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and the Metabolic Complications. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 3, 62-67. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2015.311007.