It is also the first identified chemokine to play a role in the recruitment of inflammatory cells in COPD: Increased concentrations of CXCL8 have been found in induced sputum of COPD patients compared with smokers with normal lung function and nonsmokers, and these increased CXCL8 levels have been linked with increased neutrophil numbers in sputum [60]. Here, CXCL8 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.