The concentration of the neutrophil chemoattractant CXCL8 is increased in the airways of COPD patients, and we have observed that the production of this chemokine by alveolar macrophages is relatively insensitive to corticosteroids; this may be an important mechanism contributing to persistent neutrophilic inflammation in COPD that is incompletely suppressed by corticosteroids. The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.