We also measured the effects of CSE on the release of CXCL8, a chemokine known to be induced by CS [15], and found that CSE induced CXCL8 release in a concentration dependent manner from both NHBE and COPD-AEC, although surprisingly IL-8 release from COPD-AEC was blunted in response to CSE when compared to the NHBE (Fig. 1c). Here, CXCL8 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.