A role for GrB-mediated apoptosis -either perforin-dependent apoptosis or anoikis- has been reported in inflammatory pulmonary diseases, including age-related diseases, as COPD (23, 38), and acute severe lung inflammatory diseases, as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pulmonary infections (24, 25). This evidence concerns the gene GZMB and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.