A linear increase in the level of WBC (P < 0.0001), fibrinogen (P = 0.0249), hsCRP (P = 0.0002) and plasma SP-D (P = 0.0194) was observed whereas sRAGE levels linearly decreased with disease severity (P < 0.0001), indicative of more severe emphysema. The gene discussed is SFTPD; the disease is pulmonary emphysema.