Acute cigarette smoke accelerate chronic bronchitis development in ENaC overexpressing newborn-mice

Chronic bronchitis (CB) is characterized by mucus accumulation, airway neutrophilia, and chronic airway obstruction. Excess mucus production, together with less efficient cough and loss of normal ciliary function, leads to recurrent respiratory obstruction. Overexpression of Na+ ion channels (bENaC) in the airway epithelial membrane of mice leads to airway surface liquid depletion and mucocilia clearance dysfunction, resulting in airway mucus accumulation and subsequent COPD-like disease (Mall et al. AJRCCM 2008). Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure is the major factor that causes non-infectious chronic bronchitis. Th…