The release of interleukin (IL)-6, a classical pro-inflammatory cytokine, and IL-8, a major chemo-attractant to neutrophils, decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in BEAS-2B cells (IL-6, IL-8) and CF epithelia (IL-6), whereas no statistically relevant dose-response was measured for normal and distressed HBE (Fig. 4b,c, Supplementary Table S2). Here, IL6 is linked to cystic fibrosis.