There were no other significant associations between PD-L1, FGFR1, PIK3CA, PTEN, and p16 expression and total/local severity of emphysema or presence of COPD/GOLD stage.
The expression levels of P16 and P21 were also higher in the airway epithelia of COPD model rats; however, the levels of P16 and P21 in the groups treated with all concentrations of <i>O. sinensis</i> were obviously lower than those in the COPD model group based on real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting.
Our findings suggest that p16 is not the only key player associated with CS-induced cellular senescence phenotypes (SIPS and SASP), decline in lung function, and airspace enlargement in COPD/emphysema.