A similar pattern of changes after UPM treatment was noted in COPD with additional increased IL-6 mRNA expression in epithelium/moMφs di-cultures (9.8 fold change (0.4 to 20.1 fold change)) compared to unstimulated epithelium/moMφs di-cultures (− 2.4 fold change (− 7.0 to 1.1 fold change)) (p = 0.02) (Fig. 3). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.