PRKN and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: This study clarifies the role of PRKN-regulated mitophagy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis, demonstrating that PRKN knockout mice exhibit exacerbated airway damage and cellular senescence following cigarette smoke exposure, while PRKN overexpression can induce mitophagy and reduce oxidative stress, indicating that PRKN levels may be crucial for mitigating COPD progression.