ATG5 specifically reduces the acidification of exosome-producing late nuclear endosomes by moving the regulatory component ATP6V1E1 into exosomes and disrupting the acidified v1v0-ATPase33, suggesting a link between ATG5 and ATP6V1E1, and the role of ATP6V1E1 in COPD has not been studied. Here, ATG5 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.