IL-17 is a cytokine that has been shown by us to be a key player in promotion of K-ras mutant lung tumorigenesis by NTHi-induced COPD type lung inflammation (55), as well as by others where it was specifically found to be dependent on TLR2/4 in the context of NTHi-mediated inflammation (56). This evidence concerns the gene TLR2 and inflammatory response.