Using the conditioned media (CM) from these cultures to assess their effects on neutrophil chemotaxis and survival, we sought to determine whether, as part of an acute insult, such as virus infection, associated with ∼80% of asthma exacerbations in paediatrics [31], or a chronic injury-repair process, EGF can activate the asthmatic epithelium in a way that modulates neutrophilic inflammatory responses and whether this is related to asthma severity. The gene discussed is EGF; the disease is asthma.