To further confirm a transcriptional altered programming of COPD bronchial epithelial cells suggested by the decrease of FOXJ1 protein by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot (WB), transcription factors involved in differentiation of goblet cells (SPDEF) and ciliated cells (FOXJ1) were assessed by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Here, FOXJ1 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.