Radical generation and alterations of erythrocyte integrity as bioindicators of diagnostic or prognostic value in COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has recently been viewed as an inflammation-dependent systemic disease. Oxidative modifications in the pulmonary microenvironment can result in a number of functional changes in pulmonary tissue as well as in the blood. Studies have been carried out to detect whether oxidatively modified molecules or cells could be considered possible markers of the disease. We hypothesize here that new insights into COPD could come from enzymes involved in deliberate radical generation (i.e., Nox and NOS family enzymes) as well as from alterations of erythrocyte integrity and function, which could become bioindicators of diagnostic or prognostic value in the near future.