We measured a panel of pro-inflammatory epithelial cytokines/chemokines that have been associated with lung inflammation in COPD patients and/or show increased levels in COPD lungs, i.e. CXCL817,18, CCL2019,20, CXCL10 (IP10)21–23, CCL224, CCL325, CCL4, CCL5 26, G-CSF27, IL-628,29 and IL-1221,30,31. This evidence concerns the gene CXCL10 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.