1. Hypothesised conceptual framework of the association between lung and vascular events.
Hypothesised conceptual framework of the association between lung and vascular events. Although speculative, the study findings that rapid decline in lung function predicts incident excess urinary albumin excretion later in life may be explained by lung inflammation, which causes a ‘spillover’ of local cytokines, acute-phase proteins and oxidative stress into the systemic circulation. Systemic inflammation in turn may affect endothelial function in renovascular and cerebrovascular beds, leading to renovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Alternatively, vascular endothelial dysfunction and lung inflammation may be two forms of expression of the same systemic inflammatory state, although with differing latency periods. AGEs, advanced glycation end-products; CRP, C reactive protein; IL, interleukin; RAGE, transmembrane receptor for AGEs; TNF-α, tumour necrosis factor-alpha.
Sapna Bhatia et al. BMJ Open Resp Res 2017;4:e000194
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