Our study found that lung tissue ATP6V1E1 expression was increased in COPD mice compared to normal controls and decreased in ATG5myeΔ COPD mice compared to wild-type COPD mice, and we hypothesize that macrophage autophagy may contribute to COPD development by affecting exosomes through ATG5/ATP6V1E1. Here, ATG5 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.