IL6 and asthma: Effects of the p38 MAPK inhibitor BIRB-796 and dexamethasone alone and in combination on LPS, polyI:C or TNFα -induced IL-6, CXCL8 and RANTES were assessed in 16HBEs (human epithelial cell line) and on TNFα-induced IL-6 and CXCL8 in primary human epithelial cells from asthma patients and healthy controls.