The Influence of Cigarette Smoking on Viral Infections Translating Bench Science to Impact COPD Pathogenesis and Acute Exacerbations of COPD Clinically

COPD is a complex syndrome that poses a serious health threat to >1.1 billion smokers worldwide. The stable disease is punctuated by episodes of acute exacerbation, which are predominantly the result of viral and bacterial infections. Despite their devastating health impact, mechanisms underlying disease exacerbations remain poorly understood. Mounting evidence suggests that cigarette smoke profoundly affects the immune system, compromising the …