The highest numbers of IL-1α, IL-4, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, MMP-2, TIMP-2, TGF-β1 immunoreactive cells were marked increasingly in the blood vessel wall, connective tissue, and bronchial epithelium of COPD-affected lungs, respectively. The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.