Deregulation of several genes previously described as involved in lung extracellular matrix formation (COL16A1 and MEGF6), lung cancer (IL7R and YES1), pulmonary fibrosis (MMP23B, PTP4A1, and MUC4), or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (LRRC45 and MTCL1) was also observed in each group (Fig. 2B). This evidence concerns the gene COL16A1 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.