These findings regarding the constitutively active form of CXCR1 may contribute to our knowledge of the activation of CXCR1 and may be potentially useful for designing and screening CXCR1-specific antagonists which may serve as targets for prevention and therapy of certain neutrophil-mediated inflammatory diseases such as COPD. The gene discussed is CXCR1; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.