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. The gene discussed is EGF; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.