Grant: Operating Grant

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common problem and it includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The most important risk factor for COPD is tobacco smoking. COPD originates within the lung but eventually, in the course of the disease, it affects other organs such as the muscles of respiration and of the limbs. This is important because muscle impairment in this disease is associated with poor quality of life, exercise intolerance and even premature mortality. This research proposal is intended to study why patients with COPD are susceptible to the development of muscle fatigue during physical activities. We will also study the mechanisms that are responsible for the progressive loss in muscle mass that is often seen in COPD. This human research program involves obtaining biopsy of the quadriceps in patients with COPD and in healthy controls in order to identify the abnormalities responsible for the loss of muscle mass in COPD.