Di Stefano A, et al. - In phenotypically differentiated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients [prevalent chronic airway disease (COPD-B) vs emphysema (COPD-E)], researchers investigating the levels of blood biomarkers [interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, epidermal growth factor (EGF), monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-1 and free F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs)], given blood biomarkers could be clinically useful for COPD stratification. They found that no specific blood biomarkers could differentiate COPD patients with prevalent airway disease from those with prevalent emphysema. A possible role was suggested for increased MCP-1, found in COPD-E and associated with the imbalance of oxidant/antioxidant markers, in inducing emphysema.