Characterization of vascular remodelling in experimental emphysema

Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is defined as progressive airflow obstruction, featured by emphysema and small airway disease. Pulmonary hypertension is a common complication of COPD and characterized by smooth muscle cell proliferation and vascular remodelling. Here, we sought to elucidate whether pulmonary hypertension developed in elastase-induced experimental emphysema in mice. Methods: Experimental emphysema was induced in C57BL/6 mice by single orotracheal instillation of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) (100 U/Kg BW) in 0.08ml of saline solution. Mice were sacrificed at day 14, lu…