In addition, our data in the COPD group suggested that hsa-miR-199a-5p expression could be indicative of a common pathway with NSCLC; this is in accordance with Mizuno et al., who reported that the upregulation of this miRNA was correlated with HIF-1a protein levels in the lungs of COPD patients [53]. This evidence concerns the gene HIF1A and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.