Moreover, administration of rat MSCs improves emphysema and destructive function induced by CS exposure via decrease of proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, MCP-1, and IL-6) and protease (MMP9 and MMP12) and increase of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor 2, and transforming growth factor (TGF-β) and consequently reduced pulmonary cell apoptosis [73]. This evidence concerns the gene VEGFA and pulmonary emphysema.