MIP and SMIP are markedly reduced with greater degrees of inflammation in COPD as expressed by higher levels of CRP, SAA and cystatin C. Future research is needed to further examine the above findings and determine the impact of systemic inflammation along with its underlying mechanisms on inspiratory muscle function in COPD.
Alveolar macrophages play an important role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease via production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cathepsins as well as their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases and cystatin C. We hypothesised that expression levels of these molecules by alveolar macrophages at baseline and after stimulation would be influenced by genotype and associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease phenotypes.