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Updated: Sep 16, 2026

Automated Measurement of Pulmonary Emphysema and Small Airway Remodeling in Cigarette Smoke-exposed Mice
Published on: January 16, 2015
[The role of transforming growth factor-beta(1) in smoking-induced chronic bronchitis and emphysema in hamsters]
Li Li1, Yingmao Ruan, Ying Chen
1Department of Pathology, Fuwai Cardiovascular Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China.
Objective:
To study the role of transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) in the pathogenesis of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Methods:
An animal model of chronic bronchitis and emphysema was developed in hamsters by chronic smoke inhalation. The expression of TGF-beta(1) mRNA and protein in the pulmonary tissue was observed. The bronchial epithelia was stimulated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) in vitro and the expression of TGF-beta(1) was measured.
Results:
3 months after smoking, the animals developed chronic bronchitis and emphysema. TGF-beta(1) immunoreactivity in the pulmonary tissue and cultured bronchial epithelia increased significantly as compared to the normal control (2.75 +/- 0.23 vs 0.84 +/- 0.39, P = 0.001 and 2.67 +/- 0.16 vs 0.85 +/- 0.54, P = 0.001). The expression of TGF-beta(1) mRNA was also increased in the animal model (1.28 vs 0.98).
Conclusions:
Smoking can induce over-expression of TGF-beta(1) in bronchial epithelia, which may be one of the mechanisms for smoking-induced chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
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