Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products: A New Theraputic Target for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?

Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), a multiligand receptor, has been suggested to be implicated in inflammatory response. However, its role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been well elucidated. Recently, several studies reported RAGE and its common ligands were upregulated in airways and lung tissues from COPD smokers. Moreover, inhibition of RAGE activation significantly attenuated cigarette smoke extract or bacteria-induced pulmonary inflammation. Based on these findings, a conclusion could be made that ligand-activated RAGE may play a key role in COPD and thus RAGE could be a new therapeutic target for COPD.