Viral Infection, Adaptive Immunity, and COPD

Viruses are now thought to play an important role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease pathogenesis. Viral infection and adaptive immunity show complex interactions in this disease. Tobacco, pollutants, immunosenescence, and chronic intake of steroids alter the adaptive immune response. Impairment of the adaptive response potentially predisposes to infection by respiratory viruses. Viral infection in turn impacts on the immune response, increasing the risk of bacterial infections, inducing disease impairment and chronic illness. The immunologic basis and clinical implications of this complex relationship are discussed in this study.