Three months salmeterol/fluticasone propionate reduced CD8+ and CD68+ cells in bronchial biopsies of moderate/severe COPD compared with placebo-treated subjects [124] whereas 6 to 30 months treatment with or without added bronchodilators showed decreased counts of CD3+, CD4+ and mast cells in moderate/severe COPD patients compared with the placebo group [125]. This evidence concerns the gene CD4 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.