In summary, we report that BRD4 is increased in COPD patients with viral exacerbation and its expression is correlated with IL-6 and IL-8 expression; Inflammatory cells, IL-6, KC and BRD4 are synergistically induced in the lung of mice by viral infection and CS exposure, and the former three are decreased by JQ1 treatment; IL-6, IL-8 and BRD4 are significantly induced by CSE and influenza virus in bronchial epithelial cells, and this upregulation is suppressed by BRD4 knockdown. Here, IL6 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.