STAT3 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Numerous studies implicated a relationship between microR-221-3p and inflammation, microRNA-221-3p could mediate the antitumor effects of IFN-α [29], microRNA-221-3p and microRNA-92a-3p are reportedly associated with smoking-induced inflammation in COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) [30], microRNA-221-3p could drive the shift of macrophages towards pro-inflammatory functions by inhibiting the activation of JAK3/STAT3 [31].