Recent studies indicated that primary cultures of human CF AMs exhibit a robust inflammatory phenotype that can contribute to the overall inflammatory status of CF airways [49] based on the following observations: (1) The baseline levels of IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA and their corresponding secreted proteins are higher in primary CF AMs vs. non-CF AMs and (2) the up-regulation of these cytokines after LPS stimulation is greater in CF than non-CF AMs [49]. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is cystic fibrosis.