Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex and heterogenous disease with chronic inflammation. Systemic inflammatory response is followed by increased concentration of common inflammatory biomarkers as C-reactive protein (CRP), total count of leukocytes (lkc), fibrinogen (Fbg) and inflammatory cytokines. There is an increase in extracellular heat shock protein 70 (eHsp70) and extracellular adenosine triphosphate (eATP) due to inflammatory response and cell damage in COPD. In this thesis, eHsp70 and eATP were determined in 137 patients with stable COPD and compared with the concentrations in 95 controls. It was assessed if there is the association between eHsp70 and eATP and the severity of the airflow limitation, symptoms burden and history of excerbations as well as smoking status. The relative gene expression HSP70, TLR2 and TLR4 (eHsp70 receptors) as well as P2X7R and P2Y2R (eATP receptors) was determined. Moreover, selected HSP70, TLR2 i TLR4 polymorphisms were genotyped. There was an association of eHsp70 and eATP with COPD compared to healthy subjects, airflow limitation and symptoms severity. eHsp70 and eATP were increased in control smokers compared to non-smoking controls which indicates there is an inflammatory response due to the expose of cigarette smoke even before the disease occurs. Significant association was observed between IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, Fbg, eHsp70 and eATP in COPD patients, while hierarchical cluster analysis confirmed heterogeneity and complexity of COPD. Based on logistic regression analysis, combination of IL-1β, eHsp70 and eATP-a showed significant predictive potential in identifying COPD subjects. There was a significant increase in the relative gene expression of HSP70, TLR2 and P2Y2R genes in COPD patients, while the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms showed an association of rs6457452 in the promoter region of HSP70 with the risk of COPD. In conclusion, eHsp70 and eATP are biomarkers of systemic inflammatory response in COPD and it seems they might be useful as prognostic biomarkers, especially in a combination with IL-1β. This thesis contributed with the data at genetic level which could be useful for better understanding of the COPD pathogenesis.