It is intriguing to speculate that genetic or epigenetic alterations of the MUC1-CT that block its ability to inhibit inflammatory signaling might contribute to the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory lung diseases (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis) and possibly hyperinflammatory disorders of other mucosal epithelia. The gene discussed is MUC1; the disease is cystic fibrosis.