Therapeutic Effects of recombinant human Keratinocyte Growth Factor (rHuKGF) in anElastase-Induced Emphysema Model in the Mouse

Pulmonary emphysema is a major manifestation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is characterized by persistent inflammation and progressive alveolar destruction. Such destruction in the distal respiratory tract is thought to be irreversible. Despite promising initial experiments using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) supplementation to reverse emphysema in rats, contradictory results were obtained by others. A number of studies have shown that the instillation of recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor (rHuKGF) into the lung protects animals from acute lung injury and favourably influences alveolar maintenance and repair. The mechanism of protection, however, is not completely understood. This study aimed at investigating the potential of rHuKGF to induce alveolar regeneration. Two sets of experiments were performed: 1) an in-vivo study to evaluate the therapeutic effects of rHuKGF in the elastase-induced pulmonary emphysema mouse model; 2) an in-vitro study to elucidate the basic molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of rHuKGF