Bronchial Infection in Patients With COPD and Frequent Exacerbations; Role of Innate Immunity and the Use of an Electronic Nose for Diagnosis.

Bronchial infection has been described as the leading cause of COPD exacerbations. Different studies with invasive endoscopic techniques have demonstrated the presence of bacteria in the air in 40-70% of exacerbations of the disease. In addition, these patients have a higher concentration of cells and proinflammatory cytokines in the airway. This increased inflammation is associated with more frequent and more severe exacerbations, which worsen this vicious circle.

It is not known why some patients with COPD are more susceptible than others to bronchial, acute or chronic infection. Recent studies have suggested the importance of lung innate immunity, both humoral (proteins with antibiotic activity, inflammatory mediators) and cell (neutrophils, macrophages) as the key to the defense of the lung against infectious agents external factor. There may be a bidirectional relationship between immune response and bronchial infection in COPD exacerbations.

Te main objectives of our study are: 1. To study the expression of mucin, PAM and TLR in the airway of patients with COPD and frequent exacerbations (FE) and its relationship with the infection of the airway. 2. Determine the patterns of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected by electronic nose associated with bronchial infection in patients with COPD and FE.

Secondary objectives: 1. To study the relationship between the expression of mucin, PAM and TLR with pulmonary and systemic inflammation. 2. To study the relationship between the expression of mucin, PAM and TLR with bronchial bacterial load. 3. To study the expression of mucin, PAM and TLR at the time of COPD exacerbations and subsequent clinical phase stability. 4. Determine VOC patterns for specific pathogens (H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, P. aeurginosa). 5. To study the time evolution of patterns of VOCs after a COPD exacerbation.