Figure 1.

rCC16 ameliorates CS-induced pathological changes in the lungs of COPD mice. (A) Amino acid sequences of mouse CC16 (NP_035811.1) and rat CC16 (NP_037183.1) were aligned using DNAMAN (Lynnon, Quebec, Canada). The degree of homology is indicated by different colors. Black, 100%; blue, 50%. (B) H&E-stained lung sections from control mice, CS-exposed mice and rCC16-treated mice. Exposure to CS induced the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lungs, as indicated by arrows (neutrophils, green; macrophages, blue). Treatment with rCC16 reduced the degree of pulmonary inflammation, as indicated by arrows. (C) rCC16 reduced the mean linear intercept, which was increased by CS exposure. (D) rCC16 augmented the mean alveolar number, which was decreased by CS exposure. (E) rCC16 treatment led to an increase in body weight, which was significantly reduced in CS-exposed mice. Data are presented as the mean ± SD (n=5/group). *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 as indicated. Scale bars represent 50 µm. COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CS, cigarette smoke; rCC16, recombinant club cell secretory protein; SD, standard deviation.