CD8A and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Although the mechanisms of the development of COPD in association with HIV infection are not clear, it is recognized that in HIV-infected individuals: (1) the lung is an HIV reservoir20–29; (2) HIV infection is associated with chronic lung inflammation dominated by increased numbers of activated alveolar macrophages and CD8+ T cells which release various inflammatory mediators in the local milieu15,20,30–35; and (3) chronic inflammation in the lung mediates lung injury and disordered repair typical of COPD11,36–38.