The cytokine IL13 and the chemokines CCL11 and CXCL8 were significantly different between COPD group 1 and 2 (Fig. 6b–d), whereas IL10 and CXCL8 (Figs. 4d, 6a) were significantly different between COPD group 2 and the healthy age-matched controls. Here, CXCL8 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.