A recent study conducted by Tibboel et al. revealed that the addition of a SPT inhibitor to a rodent model of elastase-induced emphysema diminished the increase in ceramides and improved lung function [177] suggesting that ceramide upregulation in emphysema models may be a critical factor in the development of alveolar destruction in the disease state, and serves as a potential therapeutic target that warrants further investigation. The gene discussed is AGXT; the disease is pulmonary emphysema.