IL-26 in bronchial brush biopsies and bronchial tissue biopsies. The gene expression profile of epithelial cells in bronchial brush biopsies was determined by mRNA analyses. (A) IL26 and TLR3, TLR7 and TLR8 mRNA levels (n = 10). (B) The mRNA level for the IL-26 associated genes IL26, IL10R2, IL20R1, STAT1 and STAT3 (n = 10). (C–F) Correlation between BAL IL-26 protein (67pg/mL [7–238pg/mL]) and mRNA levels for STAT1, STAT3, IL10R2 and IL20R1 respectively (n = 10). Cellular IL-26 protein expression in bronchial tissue biopsies was determined using IHC. (G) Monoclonal IgG2b isotype control antibody and (H) positive staining (brown) with monoclonal specific IL-26 antibody. Arrows show granular and cytoplasmic IL-26 expression. Each panel show a representative staining out of 8 subjects at a magnification of 400×. The p values indicated are according to the Mann–Whitney test (A and B) and Spearman correlation test (C–F) and p < 0.05 is considered significant.