CDKN1A and pulmonary emphysema: Remarkably, the p21 promoter-driven expression of mTert has several related consequences in aging lungs: (1) reduction of the age-dependent accumulation of senescent cells, many of them being endothelial cells, (2) promoting cell proliferation, particularly of the CD34+ endothelial cells, (3) life-long maintenance of the lung capillary density, and (4) attenuation of age-related emphysema and perivascular fibrosis.