Of note, in our comprehensive immunophenotype analysis, we found that the increased number of circulating lymphocytes in normal LF smokers and patients with GOLD 1 was mainly due to the increased levels of Th2, Th17 and B cells, but not those more closely associated with moderate/severe COPD and its exacerbations such as CD8+, Th1 or Treg cells (6), which has not been previously addressed. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.