[A comparative study of two chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mouse models established by different methods].

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Toxicology
• Animal Models

Background:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health concern.
• Accurate animal models are crucial for understanding COPD pathogenesis and testing therapies.
• Existing models may not fully recapitulate the diverse clinical presentations of COPD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare two methods for establishing COPD mouse models: cigarette smoke (CS) exposure alone versus CS combined with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instillation.
• To evaluate which model better simulates human COPD characteristics during stable and acute exacerbation phases.

Main Methods:

• Male C57 mice were divided into control, CS exposure, and LPS+CS exposure groups.
• Lung function, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis, and histological assessments (HE and PAS staining) were performed.
• Key parameters included lung capacity, airway resistance, inflammatory cell counts, cytokine levels, mucin expression, and goblet cell hyperplasia.

Main Results:

• Both CS and LPS+CS models showed increased lung capacity and airway resistance compared to controls.
• The LPS+CS group exhibited more severe airway inflammation, higher neutrophil counts, and increased IL-6 levels than the CS group.
• Goblet cell hyperplasia and Muc5ac expression were significantly higher in the LPS+CS group, indicating a stronger mimicry of acute exacerbations.

Conclusions:

• The LPS+CS model effectively simulates the pathological characteristics of acute exacerbation in human COPD.
• The CS-alone model is more suitable for mimicking the basic features of stable COPD.
• The choice of COPD mouse model should align with specific research objectives and the targeted disease phase.