([Ca 2ϩ ] i ) is key to contractility of airway smooth muscle (ASM). Studies from our own laboratory and by others showed that proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF␣ and IL-13 increase agonist-induced [Ca 2ϩ ] i response in ASM (8,31,35,38). The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is a specialized intracellular membrane system in smooth and striated muscle that is involved in the uptake, storage, and release of Ca . In smooth muscle (as in other muscles), the SR Ca 2ϩ ATPase (SERCA) is the sole mechanism for replenishing SR Ca 2ϩ stores, with two Ca 2ϩ ions pumped into the SR for every ATP consumed against a Ca 2ϩ gradient of ϳ1 M in the cytosol vs. 1 mM in the SR lumen (16,22). Thus, inflammation-induced increase in [Ca 2ϩ ] i may be mediated by interference with SERCA expression and function such that SR Ca 2ϩ reuptake is impaired. There is currently very limited data on the regulation of SERCA in ASM (7,17,30). In cardiac muscle, SERCA is normally modulated in an inhibitory fashion by the protein phospholamban (PLB) (33). Previous studies in bovine pulmonary artery (26) and murine gastrointestinal smooth muscle (14) have shown that, as in cardiac muscle, cyclic nucleotides, Ca 2ϩ /CaM-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII), and/or protein kinase C phosphorylate PLB, resulted in disinhibition of SERCA and accelerated SR Ca 2ϩ reuptake. However, in porcine coronary artery smooth muscle, while there is evidence of CaMKII phosphorylation of SERCA with accompanying increase in SERCA activity, PLB has not been detected in that tissue (12). In this regard, whether PLB itself regulates SERCA in ASM (as in cardiac or other smooth muscles) is not at all clear. We recently reported that porcine ASM does express PLB, that PLB regulation by CaMKII occurs, and decreased PLB expression (using small interference RNA; siRNA) increases SR Ca 2ϩ refilling following agonist exposure (30). However, in that study, we found that even with PLB suppression by siRNA, additional modulation of Ca 2ϩ reuptake can occur via CaMKII. Accordingly, the expression and contribution of PLB to SR Ca 2ϩ refilling may be tissue-and speciesspecific. In this regard, there is currently no information on SERCA regulation by PLB in human ASM. Furthermore, there is no information on alterations in SERCA with airway inflammation that could contribute to increased [Ca 2ϩ ] i and thus increased bronchoconstriction.In the present study, we hypothesized that inflammation leads to increased PLB expression and inhibition of SERCA in human ASM, thus decreasing SR Ca 2ϩ reuptake and contributing to inflammation-induced increase in [Ca 2ϩ