CC16 Depletion in the Lung Due to Early Life Biomass Exposures

Abstract

Millions of people across the globe are affected by respiratory diseases that include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, emphysema, as well as cancer. COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide due to the increase in global air pollution and smoking. Currently, there is no treatment that can change the outcome of the disease. The clinical manifestations of COPD are lung function decline and recurrent episodes of exacerbations (Knabe, 2015). Many pollutants that can lead to COPD come from sources such as wood and coal burning, cigarette smoke, and industrial air pollution. Many people across the world rely on the combustion of biomass for fuel as energy for heating and cooking. Biomass smoke exposures are recognized as a significant public health issue due to respiratory health implications. This paper will provide a review and synthesis of human and mice studies of lung insults that cause inflammatory diseases such as COPD and explore the role of club cell protein 16 in the development of disease following exposure to biomass smoke.