Effect of Symbicort on HAT and HDAC in Sputum Macrophages of COPD

Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion Criteria-Healthy non-smokers Non-smoking volunteer aged 40 -75 years (age matched to COPD patients) Normal spirometry (normal FEV1/FVC ratio >70% and FEV1>80% predicted) Subjects are able to give informed consent Inclusion Criteria-COPD patients (stage II-III according to the GOLD guidelines) Current and/or ex-smokers with no less than 10 pack-year smoking history aged 40 -75 years FEV1 greater than or equal to 30% and less than 80% of predicted (the upper value is a prostbronchodilator value) FEV1/FVC < 70% Patients with stable COPD Inhaled Corticosteroid (ICS) treatment, if exists, must be stopped for 2 weeks prior the study treatment Long-acting beta2-agonists and theophylline need to be stopped at least 3 days before run-in , but anti-cholinergics will be allowed throughout the study The subjects are able to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion Criteria-Healthy non-smokers Pregnancy, breast-feeding or planned pregnancy during the study. Fertile women not using acceptable contraceptive measures, as judged by the investigator Upper respiratory infection within the last 4 weeks Subjects who have received research medication within the previous one month Subjects unable to give informed consent Any psychiatric condition rendering the patient unable to understand the nature, scope and possible consequences of the study. Exclusion Criteria-COPD patients Evidence of asthma Bronchodilator reversibility > 12% Pregnancy, breast-feeding or planned pregnancy during the study. Fertile women not using acceptable contraceptive measures, as judged by the investigator Patients who have had oral steroids within 8 weeks prior to the screening visit. Patients who are already on ICS and in which it is considered unsafe (as judged by the Investigator) to stop this treatment for the study period. Patients who have had an exacerbation which required treatment with oral steroids during the last 2 months prior to the screening visit. Upper respiratory infection within the last 4 weeks Subjects who have received research medication within the previous one month Subjects unable to give informed consent Any psychiatric condition rendering the patient unable to understand the nature, scope and possible consequences of the study Patients with significant co-morbidities as judged by the investigator Any other respiratory disease, which is considered by the investigator to be clinically significant