Findings from previous studies and this study suggest that the phagocytic ability of macrophages to clear dead cells is impaired by the accumulation of Z-AAT and the phagocytosis of invading pathogens is inhibited by excessive amounts of α-defensins in AATD individuals, which could be responsible for chronic inflammation in the lung of AATD individuals. This evidence concerns the gene SERPINA1 and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.