IL-1α from airway epithelial cells increased miR-146a-5p expression in primary human lung fibroblasts, which suppressed IL-1α-induced IL-8 production from the fibroblasts; the fibroblasts from COPD patients had less increase in miR-146a-5p expression in response to IL-1α, so the production of IL-8 was less suppressed, which might contribute to chronic inflammation of COPD [42]. Here, IL1A is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.