Caram LMO, et al. – In this study, the researchers tested the hypothesize that tumor necrosis factor–alpha receptor (TNFR) and soluble form of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) can be indicators of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in asymptomatic patients. They suggested that TNFR2 might be a possible marker of COPD in asymptomatic smokers and ex–smokers. Despite the fact that smokers and patients with early COPD presented other increased systemic inflammation markers (eg, CRP) and oxidative stress (measured by AGEs), they did not differentiate smokers from COPD.