Proteins in the phagosome- and LTM pathways significantly correlated with the proportion of CD8+ T-cells, its subtype CD8+CD69+ cells as well as the level of airway obstruction (FEV1/FVC) in the Smoker group, stressing the importance these pathways may play both in the protection against as well as the early pathophysiology of smoking-induced inflammatory lung disorders such as COPD. This evidence concerns the gene CD69 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.