In addition, LHQW significantly decreased the release of inflammatory mediators such as IL-8, TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-23 in the sputum and IL-8 and IL-17 in the blood in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Dong et al., 2014). This evidence concerns the gene CXCL8 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.