Effects of simvastatin (Sim) and dexamethasone (Dex) on dsRNA-induced TNF-α gene expression (A,B) and protein production (C,D). Simvastatin did not inhibit dsRNA-induced TNF-α protein production in smoking control or COPD epithelial cells (C,D). Dexamethasone slightly attenuated TNF-α production in smoking control epithelial cells (C). Data are presented as median ± IQR, smoking controls (n = 8) and COPD (n = 7). *P ≤ 0.05, **P ≤ 0.01 and ***P ≤ 0.001.