Animal Models of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the USA and currently there are minimal therapies specific for the treatment of COPD. To advance our knowledge on COPD pathogenesis and develop new therapeutics, animal models are needed that represent key clinical and pathologic features of the human disease. The primary animal models utilized to study COPD rely on several factors associated with disease progression, i.e. genetic and epigenetic changes, environmental exposures and the microbial flora of the lungs. Here, a systematic approach was taken to summarize and evaluate the current animal models employed to study COPD pathogenesis, comorbidities and exacerbations. The strengths and limitations of these disease models are also delineated. The rodent COPD models have been extensively utilized but several studies have highlighted the potential of larger animals as an additional approach. Due to the inherent heterogeneity of COPD, the usefulness of certain animal models may be limiting but still represent helpful means to explore gene functional studies, testing new therapeutics and the exploring the significance of microbial floral changes. Therefore, interpreting the findings from animal models for the study of COPD represents a critical approach in deciding possible future human therapeutics.

Quercetin Improves Pulmonary Function and Prevents Emphysema Caused by Exposure to Cigarette Smoke in Male Mice

“…However, there are several strengths such as genetic heterogeneity, diverse responses to lung injury, low comparative costs and abundance of species-specific reagents [ 56 ]. This makes the animal model of cigarette smoke-induced COPD the best one, thus producing the inflammatory and pathogenic mechanisms of the disease as well as an appropriate model to study the process of emphysema [ 23 , 56 ], thus making it a primary testing methodology for drug therapies and representing a critical approach in deciding possible new drugs to treat COPD [ 57 ].…”

Rice Bran Oil Improves Emphysema in Cigarette Smoke Extract-Induced Mice through Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidative Effects

“…However, intraperitoneal CSE injection is not consistent with the human smoking pattern and the mechanism of COPD development in humans. Additionally, it was reported that mice and rat models with CSE and CS exposure did not demonstrate the pathology in small airways, including goblet cell metaplasia and increased mucus expression as presented in human COPD lung pathology [61]. Therefore CSE-and CS-induced animal models of pulmonary emphysema reflect only some COPD pathologies.…”

“…Therefore, exposure to cigarette smoke powerfully induces airspace enlargement in the lung. In this study, the cigarette smoke extract (CSE) is collected from mainstream cigarette smoke, containing total particulate matter and several components without the gas from smoke [61]. Introducing CSE into a mouse intraperitoneally can result in airspace enlargement with a reduction in alveolar walls in mouse lung, a main characteristic of emphysema, by environmental exposure.…”

The Serum Levels of the Heavy Metals Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb and Progression of COPD—A Preliminary Study

“…The mechanistic basis underlying COPD is complex and can involve recurrent inflammation, oxidative stress and imbalance of protease/antiprotease [3]. Risk factors for the onset and development of COPD include a combination of diverse behavioral, environmental, and genetic components e.g., exposure to biomass smoke, occupational exposures to dust and fumes, outdoor air pollution [4].…”