Researchers have found a novel, pathogenic entity that is a fundamental link between chronic inflammation and tissue destruction in lungs of patients with COPD. These exosomes from activated neutrophils caused COPD damage when they were instilled into the lungs of healthy mice. Remarkably, neutrophil exosomes from the lung fluids of human patients with COPD and neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia also caused COPD lung damage when put into the lungs of healthy mice.