CRP, WBC count and B-Neu significantly mediated the association between telomere length and COPD, as the 95% bootstrap CI did not include the null (X → M → Y) (Table 4), and the proportions mediated for these three inflammatory biomarkers were 8.6%, 6.2% and 4.2%, respectively. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.