Disease-related responses induced by cadmium in an in vitro human airway tissue model.

•Cadmium is found in tobacco smoke and linked to smoke-related respiratory diseases.•Cadmium impaired cilia function in a human air-liquid-interface airway tissue model.•Cadmium induced aberrant mucins expression and secretion.•Cadmium induced oxidative stress, release of cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases.•Cadmium initiated squamous differentiation in this in vitro airway tissue model.