Among these mediators, only IL-8 and VEGF but not IL-6, PGE2, HGF, KGF nor fibronectin were produced in larger amount by COPD lung fibroblasts than by control lung fibroblasts either in the absence or presence of IL-1ß and TNF-α (Fig 5A–5G). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.