In patients with COPD, the network is further developed (more and thicker links) with some nodes (WBC (p<0.03), CRP (p<0.001), IL-6(p<0.001) and fibrinogen (p<0.001)) increasing, and others (IL-8 (p<0.02) and TNFα (p<0.001)) decreasing in size as compared with smokers with normal lung function (Figure 2). The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.