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Updated: Dec 14, 2025

Bioluminescence Imaging of NADPH Oxidase Activity in Different Animal Models
Published on: October 22, 2012
NADPH oxidase subunit NOXO1 is a target for emphysema treatment in COPD
Michael Seimetz1, Natascha Sommer1, Mariola Bednorz1
1Justus-Liebig University, Excellence Cluster Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Germany.
Abstract:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and death worldwide. Peroxynitrite, formed from nitric oxide, which is derived from inducible nitric oxide synthase, and superoxide, has been implicated in the development of emphysema, but the source of the superoxide was hitherto not characterized. Here, we identify the non-phagocytic NADPH oxidase organizer 1 (NOXO1) as the superoxide source and an essential driver of smoke-induced emphysema and pulmonary hypertension development in mice. NOXO1 is consistently upregulated in two models of lung emphysema, Cybb (also known as NADPH oxidase 2, Nox2)-knockout mice and wild-type mice with tobacco-smoke-induced emphysema, and in human COPD. Noxo1-knockout mice are protected against tobacco-smoke-induced pulmonary hypertension and emphysema. Quantification of superoxide, nitrotyrosine and multiple NOXO1-dependent signalling pathways confirm that peroxynitrite formation from nitric oxide and superoxide is a driver of lung emphysema. Our results suggest that NOXO1 may have potential as a therapeutic target in emphysema.
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