Pulmonary epithelial neuropilin-1 deletion enhances development of cigarette smoke-induced emphysema.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure is an important risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; however, not all smokers develop disease, suggesting that other factors influence disease development.

Objectives

We sought to determine whether neuropilin-1 (Nrp1), an integral component of receptor complexes mediating alveolar septation and vascular development, was involved in maintenance of normal alveolar structure, and/or altered susceptibility to the effects of CS.

Methods

Transgenic mice were generated to achieve inducible lung-specific deletion of epithelial Nrp1. We determined whether conditional Nrp1 deletion altered airspace size, then compared the effects of chronic CS or filtered air exposure on airspace size, inflammation, and the balance betwe

SUBMITTER: Le A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2742758 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature