AIM2 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Therefore, we could speculate that AIM2-dependent oxidative stress may be involved in the inflammatory pattern which enhances the exacerbation process, even under corticosteroid treatment, in that exacerbated COPD-derived PBMCs were not responsive to Dexamethasone, allowing the release of IL-1α and thus amplifying the inflammatory pattern in exacerbated COPD patients.