AGE	Advanced glycation end-products
Ager	Murine RAGE gene
Ager-/-	RAGE-deficient mice
Akt	Protein kinase B
AP-1	Activator protein 1
BCAA	Branched-chain amino acids
COPD	Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
EGF	Epidermal growth factor
ELISA	Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
ERK	Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase
FCS	Fetal calf serum
FDNY	Fire Department of New York
FEV1	Forced expiratory volume
FEV1%predicted < LLN	Percent of predicted forced expiratory volume less than the lower limit of normal
FGF	fibroblast growth factor
Flt	Fms-like tyrosine kinase
GAPDH	Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase
GM-CSF	Granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor
GPC	Glycero-phosphatidylcholines
HDL	High-density lipoprotein
IFN	Interferon
IgG	Immunoglobulin G
IL	Interleukin
IP	IFNγ-induced protein
JNK	c-Jun N-terminal kinase
KC	Chemokine kigand 1 (murine)
LDL	Low-density lipoprotein
LPA	Lysophosphatidic acid
MA	Media alone
MCP	Monocyte chemoattractant protein
MDC	Macrophage-derived chemokine
MetSyn	Metabolic syndrome
MIP	Macrophage inflammatory protein
NF-κB	Nuclear factor kappa light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells
OAD	Obstructive airway disease
p-Akt	Phosphorylated protein kinase
PBS	Phosphate-buffered saline
PDGF	Platelet-derived growth factor
PLA2	Phospholipase 2
PM	Particulate matter
PMA	Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate
PPAR-γ	Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma
p-STAT	Phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription
RAGE	Receptor for advanced glycation end-products (membrane-bound)
RANTES	Regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed, and secreted
sCD40L	Soluble cluster of differentiation-40 ligand
sIL-2Rα	Secreted interleukin-2 receptor alpha
SDS-PAGE	Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
SP-1	Specificity protein 1
sRAGE	Soluble RAGE
STAT	Signal transducer and activator of transcription
TGF	Tumor growth factor
TLR	Toll-like receptor
TNF	Tumor necrosis factor
VEGF	Vascular endothelial growth factor
WTC-HP	WTC Health Program
WTC-LI	World Trade Center—lung injury
WTC-PM	World Trade Center—particulate matter