Compared to normal controls with 15 basal cells per mm of RBM staining positive for TGF-β1, there was a significant decrease in staining for TGF-β1 in basal cells from NLFS (0.0 cells showing positive staining per mm of RBM) and COPD patients(0.5 cells showing positive staining per mm of RBM, Figures 1, 2, Table 2). This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.