Hence, we set up to investigate the role of AUF-1 in airway epithelial responses in COPD by identification of its targeted transcripts, evaluating the expression of this gene signature in diverse COPD epithelial transcriptomic studies and studying mechanisms and effects of its downregulation, triggered by inflammatory stimulation or gene silencing, in cultured human airway epithelial cells. The gene discussed is HNRNPD; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.