To test this hypothesis, we determined in 1755 COPD patients, 297 smokers and 202 non-smoker controls included in the ECLIPSE study [17]: (1) the prevalence, temporal stability and network pattern (inflammome [18]) of the six inflammatory biomarkers most often studied in COPD (WBC count, CRP, IL-6, IL-8, fibrinogen and TNFα) [8], [9]; and, (2) their relationship with clinical characteristics and relevant outcomes at 3 years follow-up. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.