The slides in this module are focused on inflammatory mechanisms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Several different cell types inflammatory cells and multiple cytokines contribute to inflammation and thus possibly to the symptoms of COPD (e.g., cough, breathlessness, sputum) and the decline in FEV1 characteristic of this disease. Higher levels of inflammation in patients with COPD may also increase the risk for exacerbations.