In our study, the known eosinophil chemoattractants IL-5 and eotaxin-3 were found at similar levels in COPD, asthma and control subjects and did not correlate with CD125 and CD193 expression, respectively, suggesting other than the classical Th2-related pattern of eosinophil activation in the airways of COPD patients. The gene discussed is IL5RA; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.