Besides, the expression of p65 NF-kB, one of its activated form, is also elevated in the epithelium of smokers with normal lung function and COPD patients that correlated with a greater counts of macrophages, neutrophilic leucocytes and CD8+ T cells in airway walls, when compared to nonsmoking persons [61, 63]. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.