There was a tendency for increased VEGFR2 expression (p = 0.084, Fig. 1a) in fibroblasts from COPD patients compared to control subjects at hypoxic conditions and a tendency for decreased HIF1α (p = 0.066, Fig. 1f) in fibroblasts from COPD patients at normoxic conditions compared to control subjects. The gene discussed is KDR; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.