In addition, RT-qPCR and Western blotting of non-CF macrophages transfected with the miR-146a inhibitor demonstrated that miR-146a inhibition was associated with significant increases in TRAF6 mRNA (p = 0.0395) and protein expression (p = 0.0273), compared to the control cells (Fig. 4a,b, Supplementary Fig. 3). The gene discussed is TRAF6; the disease is cystic fibrosis.