RHOT1 and pulmonary emphysema: To determine the role of Rhot1/Miro1 in augmenting the CS-induced lung inflammation and the effect of duration of exposure on its implication on COPD/emphysema phenotype development, we utilized epithelial cell-specific (Rhot1CreCC10) Miro1 knockout mouse models that were exposed to mainstream CS for 3 days (acute phase or short term) and 4 months (chronic phase or long term).