To identify important network elements for CS-induced COPD, in silico knockout simulations for the proinflammatory elements, e.g., M1, DC, Th1, Th17, CD8+T cells and TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL-17 were conducted in the following discussion. Deletion of a network element in the model was performed by setting all parameters of the element and the rate to zero . Here, the parameters used in the simulations are listed in Table A in S1 File [dTD = 2.9×10−3 (1/day)] and the CS dose (S = 1.67) is the same as that shown in Figs 2–4. The results for the time courses of TD, and Iα, I6 and I17 are presented in Fig 10.