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