Type-1 helper (Th1) lymphocytes and CD8+ T cells are elevated in a number of inflammatory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [1] where these cells are located at the sites of airways obstruction [2, 3] and may contribute to emphysema via the production of granzyme B and perforins [4]. Here, CD8A is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.