KEAP1 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: However other groups observed decreased expression of NFE2L2 mRNA in bronchial epithelium and alveolar macrophages from mild COPD patients compared to controls (Suzuki et al. 2008) and decreased NFE2L2 and increased KEAP1 expression in the whole lung and alveolar macrophages from COPD patients with severe emphysema (average FEV1 22%) (Goven et al. 2008).