PD-1 (ρ = 0.58, p < 0.001) and MMP-9 (ρ = 0.49, p < 0.001) also positively correlated with HAM-D scores, further implicating immune exhaustion and blood–brain barrier (BBB) compromise in the pathogenesis of depression in AECOPD. The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is depressive disorder.