NQO1 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: The strengths of our study include determining the characterization of Nqo1-AS1, investigating the expression patterns of Nqo1-AS1 (or its human homologue) and Nqo1 in lung tissues of mice exposed to CS, mle-12 cells treated with CSE and PBMCs from patients with COPD, and examining the role of Nqo1-AS1 in the regulation of CS-induced oxidative stress.