One such disease state is allergic airway inflammation caused by type 2 (T2) cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), which is common in both children and adults and has been associated with the development of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a subgroup of patients12–14. This evidence concerns the gene SGCG and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.