Targeting peripheral blood pro-inflammatory cytotoxic lymphocytes by inhibiting CD137 expression: Novel potential treatment for COPD

We have shown that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the cytotoxic mediator, granzyme B by peripheral blood steroid resistant CD28nullCD137 + CD8+ T cells and granzyme B by NKT-like and NK cells.