COPD is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The disease causes a gradual decline in lung function, making breathing increasingly difficult. Patients are also more prone to lung infections, which can trigger sudden flare-ups, called exacerbations, that accelerate disease progression. To date, no treatment exists that can halt this progression.
Sjors' research focuses on macrophages, the immune cells responsible for keeping the lungs clean. In healthy lungs, macrophages engulf bacteria and clear away dead or damaged cells. This clearing process is essential for resolving inflammation after an infection. In COPD, this system breaks down: macrophages become less effective at their job, allowing inflammation to persist and lung damage to accumulate.
The IMPACT project investigates why macrophage function deteriorates in COPD and whether it can be restored. A key focus is the energy metabolism of these cells, particularly the role of a molecule called itaconate, which has anti-inflammatory properties and may boost the macrophages' ability to clear dead cells. To test this, Sjors will develop a new laboratory model in which macrophages from COPD patients and healthy donors are grown together with lung cells, allowing him to simulate how the lung responds to infection and recovers afterwards.
The findings could open new avenues for therapies that go beyond symptom management and target the underlying mechanisms driving COPD progression.
