In an experimental model of CS-induced COPD, Li et al. observed increased expression levels of pyruvate kinase M2(PKM2) in mouse lung tissue and BEAS-2B cells, which was accompanied by exacerbated airway inflammation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition; however, when PKM2 was knocked down, PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy was inhibited, and the aforementioned pathological changes were reversed, suggesting that PKM2 plays a role in regulating PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy (Li D. et al., 2022). This evidence concerns the gene PRKN and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.