p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP) kinase is activated by various stresses; however, little is known about cold stress which has been shown to cause various inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we examined the effect of cold stimulation on interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression and a role of p38 MAP kinase in IL-8expression in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) in order to clarify the mechanism in hypothermic temperature-induced inflammation. The results showed that cold stimulation induced tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase but not IL-8 expression. IL-8 expression in BEC was induced when the temperature of incubation changed from 1 °C to 37 °C (cooling and rewarming). The specific p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB 203580 inhibited cooling and rewarming-induced IL-8 expression, indicating that cooling and rewarming-induced IL-8 expression in BEC was mediated through p38 MAP kinase-dependent pathway.