Mechanistically, GLUT3 regulated the occurrence of EMT by the NF-κB/ZEB1 pathway as a starting point in airway epithelial cells, exploring the molecular mechanisms of airway remodelling, COPD occurrence and development, and providing new ideas and therapeutic targets for identifying biomarkers of smoking-induced airway remodelling, and COPD prevention and treatment. Here, ZEB1 is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.