Decreased muscle PPAR concentrations: a mechanism underlying skeletal muscle abnormalities in COPD?

P eripheral muscle weakness is a common and serious complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which precedes loss of fat-free mass and is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with Global Initiative for COPD grade III or IV disease [1]. Current treatment options for muscle weakness are limited to exercise and supplemental feeding for cachectic patients. However, this approach is not effective in all individuals and the development of drugs that could be used as adjunctive therapies in the treatment of muscle weakness is hindered by a lack of knowledge of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the muscle dysfunction.