**7. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease**

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an "umbrella" term that combines different pathological conditions such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, nonreversible asthma, and some types of bronchiectasis characterized by irreversible airflow limitations. Its clinical features are a general progressive airflow limitation, destruction of the lung parenchyma, and/ or local fibrosis. Even though the main cause of the disorder is cigarette smoking, continuous inhalation of toxic gases and particles which promotes chronic airway inflammation may contribute to its development. COPD can also be determined by genetic factors, i.e., the deficiency of α-1 antitrypsin (AATD).

The following subsections describe electrokinetic-based proteomic studies aimed at elucidating the mechanism underlying the pathobiology of the disease.
