In the past year, we developed CCSP-rtTA/ (tetO) (7)-MMP12 bitransgenic lung cancer model to study MMP12 function in the process of inflammation-triggered lung inflammation and cancer. In this model, MMP12-Flag fusion protein overexpression and its increased enzymatic activity were observed in the lung in an inducible manner, which led to inflammatory cell infiltration and increased epithelial growth. Spontaneous emphysema and bronchioalveolar adenocarcinoma were found through pathological

more »

... sis. During this process, ELISA results demonstrated that the concentration of some cytokins was increased in bronchioalveolar lavage fluid, which activated the oncogenic signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) in alveolar type II epithelial cells. Real-time PCR and western blotting results demonstrate that expression of Stat3 downstream was significantly increased in the lung. MMP12 upregulation was highly associated with patients with COPD and lung cancer.