We, therefore, analysed the effect of the corticosteroid fluticasone propionate, which is used as an inhaled corticosteroid to treat excessive airway inflammation in asthma, and the TNF-α neutralising drug Enbrel® (etanercept, soluble TNFα receptor Fc fusion protein) on B. thailandensis-induced activation of airway barrier functions in the 16HBE cell model. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is asthma.