This epithelial activation response, which involves induction of proinflammatory stress response mediators (CXCL1, IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF, and HMOX1), increased expression of cell surface markers relevant to cytoadherence and severe malaria (CD36, ICAM1, and THBS1), and epithelial barrier remodeling, is associated with neutrophil recruitment into the airway. The gene discussed is HMOX1; the disease is malaria.