Next, we measured the concentrations of IL-8, IL-6, IL-1 beta and LTB4 in the BALF samples and found that AATD individuals had significantly greater levels of the pro-inflammatory mediators than controls (Fig. 2A–D) including a sixfold greater ELF concentration of LTB4 in AATD individuals. Here, IL1B is linked to alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.