Airway mucus obstruction triggers macrophage activation and matrix metalloproteinase 12-dependent emphysema
Whereas cigarette smoking remains the main risk factor for emphysema, recent studies in β-epithelial Na+ channel-transgenic (βENaC-Tg) mice demonstrated that airway surface dehydration, a key pathophysiological mechanism in cystic fibrosis (CF), caused emphysema in the absence of cigarette smoke exposure. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to elucidate mec