We demonstrate that (i) elevated uPAR expression is a feature of cultured asthma HBECs, suggesting that the previously observed elevated expression in vivo is intrinsic to asthma patient cells and (ii) scuPAR expression is variable during bronchial epithelial differentiation in vitro and is inversely correlated with barrier properties in ALI and submerged culture conditions. The gene discussed is PLAUR; the disease is asthma.