Increased RAGE staining in the alveolar walls of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been demonstrated to inversely correlate with lung function [4]; increased levels of the RAGE ligand HMGB1 in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from smokers with COPD also has a similar correlation with worsening lung function [3]. This evidence concerns the gene HMGB1 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.