**8. Conclusions**

There is scarce data on the role of chaperones in the molecular pathogenesis of COPD. The contemporary techniques – proteomics (MALDI-TOFF) and transcritpomics (SAGE – serial analysis of gene expression) show overexpression of both high molecular weight – HSP70 and small heat shock proteins – hem-oxygenase -1, HSP27 in lung cell lysates. Far more studies are dedicated to the high levels of circulating extracellular heat shock proteins, representing them as a trigger for Toll-like receptor mediated immune response – HSP70, or as a panel of diagnostic markers in COPD – HSP90, HSP70, HSP27. Presuming the biological functions of the chaperone system, its significance in protecting cells from "stress", its large collaboration with the immune system and importance of preserving the proper functioning and balance of the proteome within cells it is undoubtedly necessary to further elucidate their place in COPD etiology and progression.
