Significantly higher (P < 0.0001) levels of serum VEGF (~2.1 folds; COPD: 1009.2 ± 122.8 pg/ml; HD: 459 ± 45.3 pg/ml) and MMP-9 (1.8 folds; COPD: 1289.6 ± 193.3 ng/ml; HD: 703.6 ± 98.2 ng/ml) were observed in COPD patients than HD. The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.