Given that the apoptosis rate of PiZZ neutrophils is two-fold higher than PiMM neutrophils (53) and the expression level of TNFα promoting neutrophil apoptosis is higher in Z-MDMs, Z-AAT variant accelerates neutrophil apoptosis in the pulmonary alveoli of AATD individuals. Here, TNF is linked to alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.