More recently, we demonstrated that the dysregulation of the pIgR/SC system in COPD is durably imprinted in the COPD airway epithelium, as long-term cultures (up to 10 weeks) of ALI-redifferentiated COPD airway epithelial cells exhibit persistent decreases in pIgR expression and SC release, along with impaired pIgR mRNA levels [74], corroborating previous findings obtained at 4 weeks of ALI culture [83]. This evidence concerns the gene PIGR and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.