The molecular mechanisms underlying COPD remain undetermined. The lungs of surfactant protein-D (SP-D) deficient mice show emphysema and an excessive number of foamy macrophages. This study aims to elucidate roles of SP-D and foamy macrophages in smoking-induced mouse emphysema.
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Course of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan.