BECN1 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Plant et al. found that the mRNA expression of autophagy‐related genes Beclin‐1 and microtubule‐associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha (MAP1LC3A, referred to as LC3) is unaltered in the limb muscles of COPD patients compared with controls.57 Limb muscle sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1, referred to as P62) mRNA expression, however, is increased in COPD patients.45 Although the mRNA expression of autophagy‐related genes and the activation of ULK1 may give some insight in the level of autophagy initiation, it does not directly reflect the level of autophagic flux.