The reasons for these findings need to be further elucidated but considering the dramatic and statistically significant (P ≤ 0.005) (other than IL-1β in first fiber microarray cohort) differences among CF patients and between CF and healthy patients, VEGF, IP-10, IL-8, EGF, and MMP-9, IL-1β show potential as protein markers for CF research and monitoring. The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is cystic fibrosis.