The role of the Protein C system in allergic and non-allergic lung inflammation

Lung diseases are an increasing problem for healthcare systems worldwide. Asthma and pneumonia are two highly prevalent respiratory disorders responsible for considerable impact on the level of individual patients and on public society in general. In the Netherlands, more than half a million people have asthma (which is >3% of the total population) and 172,000 people annually suffer from pneumonia. Both asthma and pneumonia are characterized by a significant inflammatory response in the lung compartment. Underlying molecular pathways of lung inflammation are complex and not fully understood. Better understanding of the mechanisms that drive lung inflammation in asthma and pneumonia patients may help to develop better anti-inflammatory treatment strategies. In this thesis, we explored the role of the anticoagulant Protein C (PC) system in allergic and non-allergic lung inflammation and evaluated the PC system as a potential anti-inflammatory treatment strategy in context of asthma and pneumonia.