Fig. 4.

SOD3 protected lung against inflammation in mice exposed to CS and elastase. Inflammatory cell influx into BAL fluid were decreased in SOD3 Tg mice, whereas deficiency of SOD3 enhanced the lung inflammatory response compared with WT mice exposed to CS for 2, 4, and 6 mo (A), or intratracheally injected with elastase (B). (C) s.c. injection of SOD mimetic significantly attenuated 3-d CS-induced neutrophil influx in lungs of both WT and SOD3 KO mice. Data are shown as mean ± SEM (n = 3–5 per group). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 versus corresponding air- or saline solution–exposed groups; ⁺P < 0.05, ⁺⁺P < 0.01, and ⁺⁺⁺P < 0.001 versus corresponding CS- or elastase-exposed WT mice; ^$P < 0.05 and ^$$$P < 0.001 versus corresponding air- or CS-exposed control groups.