High amplitude strain, mimicking the abnormal mechanical lung environment activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling proteins, including an increased phosphorylation of the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and decreased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, in asthma-derived compared to non-asthma-control bronchial fibroblasts [66, 75]. The gene discussed is MAPK8; the disease is asthma.