Broccoli Compound May Combat COPD - NIH Research Matters - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Broccoli Compound May Combat COPD - NIH Research Matters - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), damage to immune cells limits the lungs’ ability to fight off bacterial infections. According to a new study, boosting the activity of a specific molecule in these cells can restore their defensive powers.

COPD is the third leading cause of death nationwide. It’s often brought on by cigarette smoking. COPD can cause shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, among other symptoms. In patients with COPD, immune cells called macrophages lose their ability to engulf and remove bacteria, making the lungs more vulnerable to infection. Infection can lead to inflammation, which is a major cause of impaired lung function and death in these patients. Until now, no one knew how to reverse this damage to the macrophages.