CD8A and asthma: Because increased expression of perforin and granzyme B by peripheral blood CD8+ T lymphocytes has been reported in other chronic diseases such as asthma [12] and systemic lupus erythematosus [13], overexpression of cytotoxic molecules by systemic CD8+ T lymphocytes or other types of lymphocytes may also lead to non-specific systemic damages in the lungs of emphysematous subjects.