Importantly, in our model system, these morphological and inflammatory changes were accompanied by increases in lung IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and MIP-2/CXCL2, markers of oxidative stress, MMP expression and reduction in Sirt1 levels, as seen in humans with COPD [30-32]. This evidence concerns the gene CXCL2 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.