Of the four viruses, RS4 elicited the earliest detected (3 d.p.i.)and highest IFN-β production from COPD WD-BECs, peaking at 9 d.p.i. (mean 626 pg/mL; Figure 6d) and reaching statistical significance over healthy WD-BEC production at 11–13 d.p.i. Overall, the WD-BEC data correlated to the submerged culture model in that COPD was associated with elevated IFN-β production compared to healthy cells. Here, IFNB1 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.