In addition, when only the subjects from COPD were analyzed, miR-503 was positively correlated with %FEV1 (control: p < 0.05, rs = 0.54, IL-1ß/TNF-α: p < 0.05, rs = 0.54) and %DLco (control: p < 0.01, rs = 0.70, IL-1ß/TNF-α: p < 0.01, rs = 0.68) but not with %FVC (control: p = 0.22, rs = 0.31, IL-1ß/TNF-α: p = 0.19, rs = 0.33) (data not shown). Here, TNF is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.