The predominant downregulation found for the RIP-Seq derived AUF-1-associated transcripts in both transcriptomic datasets (in particular for the 24 genes in common, only SF3A2, DOCK1, LPP, NEU3 are upregulated) supports the hypothesis that in COPD disease, AUF1 loss may determine in airway epithelium a loss of protection of genomic integrity and altered gene regulation, concurring to accelerated cell senescence and inflammation. This evidence concerns the gene NEU3 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.