VEGFA and pulmonary emphysema: VEGF is known to promote MSC motility [20] and is reduced in sputum in COPD patients, which has been correlated with alveolar destruction [21]; moreover, loss of VEGF in emphysema lungs leads to endothelial cell apoptosis [22] and its secretion by distal lung fibroblasts mediates remodeling processes in these areas [23].