Diverging Proliferative Behavior of Alveolar Epithelial Cells in Progressive Elastase-Induced Emphysema

Rationale: Development of emphysema is typical for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We already showed that a single application of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) causes a severe progressing emphysema-like phenotype in C57BL/6 mice. Emphysema formation is apparently not completed after PPE application, so we aimed to identify possible key mechanisms that drive this process even at late time points. Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice received a single oropharyngeal application of PPE or PBS, and lung function, histology and gene expression was analyzed on day 2, 28, 56, and 162. Fibroblasts of PPE treate…