Retinoic acid treatment abrogates elastase-induced pulmonary emphysema in rats

GDC Massaro, D Massaro - Nature medicine, 1997 - nature.com
GDC Massaro, D Massaro
Nature medicine, 1997nature.com
Pulmonary emphysema is a common disease1 in which destruction of the lung's gas-
exchange structures (alveoli) 2 leads to inadequate oxygenation3, disability4 and frequently
death1; lung transplantation provides its only remediation. Because treatment of normal rats
with all-trans-retinoic acid increases the number of alveoli5, we tested whether a similar
effect would occur in rats with emphysema. Elastase was instilled into rat lungs, producing
changes characteristic of human2 and experimental6 emphysema: increased lung volume …
Abstract
Pulmonary emphysema is a common disease1 in which destruction of the lung's gas-exchange structures (alveoli)2 leads to inadequate oxygenation3, disability4 and frequently death1; lung transplantation provides its only remediation. Because treatment of normal rats with all-trans-retinoic acid increases the number of alveoli5, we tested whether a similar effect would occur in rats with emphysema. Elastase was instilled into rat lungs, producing changes characteristic of human2 and experimental6 emphysema: increased lung volume reflecting a loss of lung elastic recoil, larger but fewer alveoli and diminished volume-corrected alveolar surface area due to destruction of alveolar walls. Treatment with all-trans-retinoic acid reversed these changes providing nonsurgical remediation of emphysema and suggesting the possibility of a similar effect in humans.
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