Rcn3 Suppression Was Responsible for Partial Relief of Emphysema as Shown by Specific Type II Alveolar Epithelial Cell Rcn3 CKO Mouse Model.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by irreversible airflow limitation, is a highly prevalent lung disease worldwide and imposes increasing disease burdens globally. Emphysema is one of the primary pathological features contributing to the irreversible decline of pulmonary function in COPD patients, but the pathogenetic mechanisms remain unclear. Reticulocalbin 3 (Rcn3) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen protein localized in the secretory pathway of living cells.