CD8A and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: In this study, we found increased expression of miR-24-3p mainly in the T lymphocytes and monocytes, which might in part contribute to the increased number of CD8+ T cells in the lung [26] and to the impairment of host defenses in the lower respiratory tract due to the smoke related changes in the phenotype of alveolar macrophages of COPD patients [27].