We engineered mouse models with the specific loss-of-function (LOF) mutations of the Mirlet7b/Mirlet7c2 and Mirlet7a1/Mirlet7f1/Mirlet7d clusters, respectively, in T cells as well as an inducible Mirlet7g gain-of-function (GOF) model to determine the T cell-intrinsic role of Mirlet7 miRNA in emphysema pathogenesis. This evidence concerns the gene MIRLET7A1 and pulmonary emphysema.