[COPD Update 2015: Cell Biology goes Clinic? - Important Research Findings for Clinicians]

The COPD is a very common, chronic, non-contagious disease causing high mortality as well as high socio-economical costs worldwide. Its clinical assessment progressively becomes more comprehensive including the lung function, the rate of exacerbations, the physical capacity, the sensation of dyspnoea, and comorbidities. On the other hand, our therapeutic options are very limited: Although there are several well-tolerated and effective combinable bronchodilators of the group of long-acting beta2-mimetics and anticholinergics, drugs causally affecting pathophysiology are barely available. As anti-inflammatory principles only inhaled glucocorticoids as well as one orally available inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 are approved, each improving the course of disease in a subgroup of patients. This lack of effective causative therapeutic principles on the one hand and of biomarkers clearly stratifying patients on the other hand to a large extend are caused by our limited understanding of the pathophysiology. Therefore, this review presents the current progress in clinical and experimental research on COPD with regard to clinical practice.