As a core metabolic product, lactate may promote the release of inflammatory mediators (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α) by activating the TGF-β signaling pathway, while enhancing NF-κB pathway activity to exacerbate local inflammatory infiltration in lung tissue — but this direct activation has not been demonstrated in COPD airway cells. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.