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Previous Volume 361:1024 September 3, 2009 Number 10 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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To the Editor: Cosio et al. (June 4 issue)¹ present data that will stimulate the study of the role of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, we think that research efforts focusing on the mechanisms of autoimmunity in COPD are not of paramount importance in smokers and patients with COPD, at least from a practical point of view. First, we believe that tobacco smoke can affect individual persons differently, just as alcohol can affect persons who abuse alcohol differently and silica dust can affect quarry workers differently. Second, it is also clear that genetic factors . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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