Lung fibroblasts derived from patients with COPD have high intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression and secrete more IL-6, IL-8, MMP-9 and PGE2 [2,16,18], the latter being due to increased COX-2 protein expression [19]. The gene discussed is ICAM1; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.