However, in respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is excessive infiltration and activation of neutrophils, subsequent production of reactive oxygen species, and release of serine proteases, matrix metalloproteinases, and myeloperoxidase-resulting in collateral damage as the cells infiltrate into the tissue.
In this study, we investigated genetic polymorphisms of the CD63 gene, quantified CD63 expression and PMN myeloperoxidase (MPO) release in healthy individuals and COPD patients.