Keratin 15 protects against cigarette smoke-induced epithelial mesenchymal transformation by MMP-9.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a chronic inflammatory lung disease, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Prolonged cigarette smoking (CS) that causes irreversible airway remodeling and significantly reduces lung function is a major risk factor for COPD. Keratin15⁺ (Krt15⁺) cells with the potential of self-renewal and differentiation properties have been implicated in the maintenance, proliferation, and differentiation of airway basal cells; however, the role of Krt15 in COPD is not clear.

Methods

Krt15 knockout (Krt15^-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice of C57BL/6 background were exposed to CS for six months to establish COPD models. Krt15-CrePGR;Rosa26-LSL-tdTomato mice were used to trace the fate of the

SUBMITTER: Zhu W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10675954 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature