A mice model study of COPD found that treatment with antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is effective in lowering blood levels of pro-inflammatory molecules, and also reduced lung scarring, or fibrosis. This beneficial effect was linked with the suppression of two molecules — von Willebrand factor (VWF) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) — as this promotes the restoration of immune responses and the repression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). These new findings may prove the therapeutic benefits of NAC and can provide insights on its underlying mechanisms, providing new therapeutic targets and approaches in COPD.