NR3C1 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: GR and HDAC2. In severe asthma and COPD, histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) expression and activity are reduced, resulting in the deacetylation of GR (Lys494 and Lys495) and reduced HDAC2 activity at histones associated with pro-inflammatory genes [180,181,182,183].