Research in the past two decades revealed pathological features of lung tissue remodeling in COPD patients: changes in mucosal tissue, fiber types and/or fibrosis, pulmonary and systemic inflammation, lung vascular remodeling, and angiogenesis.43 Inflammation is a pivotal pathological feature of COPD and may promote angiogenesis through means an influx of inflammatory cells (neutrophils, macrophages and CD8+ T lymphocytes) in the lumen and the wall of the bronchial and bronchiolar airways and parenchyma.44 Here, CD8A is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.