Importantly, our data demonstrate for the first time that CS triggered increase of basal shedding of IL6R and AREG into the basal medium, in the presence of EGF in the growth medium providing basal EGFR activity, was more pronounced in ALI‐PBEC derived from COPD patients compared to non‐COPD controls. This evidence concerns the gene AREG and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.