When mice were exposed to cigarette smoke for 8 weeks, pro-atrophic genes (i.e. Atrogin-1, MuRF1 and FoxO3) [22], [23] exhibited higher mRNA expression levels when compared to controls, despite the fact that an emphysema-like phenotype and airway remodeling are observed only after prolonged exposure, usually following 4–6 months of cigarette smoke exposure [32]. Here, FBXO32 is linked to pulmonary emphysema.