During COPD exacerbations caused by rhinovirus infection, persistent goblet cell hyperplasia is induced via the neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 3 (Notch 3)-hairy/enhancer-of-split related with YRPW motif protein 1 (Hey1)-FOXA3 axis in basal cell-derived progenitors. This evidence concerns the gene FOXA3 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.