Dr. Wioletta Skronska-Wasek

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by emphysema, chronic inflammation and increased bacterial colonization of airways associated with exacerbations. While the number of macrophages is elevated in COPD, their phagocytic capacity is attenuated. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are naturally occurring proteins with anti-pathogen and proposed immunomodulatory functions. We hypothesize that the airway epithelium-derived AMPs regulate the function of macrophages in COPD.