In this study, we have demonstrated for the first time a reduction in HDAC2 protein in skeletal muscle from COPD patients, and this is of a similar order to the reduction in HDAC2 protein expression previously reported in peripheral lung tissue, alveolar macrophages, sputum macrophages, bronchial biopsies and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from COPD patients [16, 20]. This evidence concerns the gene HDAC2 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.