Of the COPD-specific genes we studied, CEACAM1, COL6A3, NOL3, COL1A2, MLPH, MUC1, P8, UNQ473, CLDN4, RNASE1, H19, DEFA1 and LOC653600 were upregulated more than tenfold, mainly related to nuclear proteins, collagens or molecular structure. Here, NOL3 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.