Peripheral Blood Expressions of MicroRNA-146a and MicroRNA-218 in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with/without Cigarette Smoke Exposure.

Altered expression and dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported in different samples of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The present study attempted to evaluate the peripheral expressions of miR-146a and miR-218 in COPD patients and sex-matched healthy controls with/without cigarette smoke exposure (CSE). In this case-control study, blood samples were collected from 60 COPD patients (30 with CSE and 30 non-CSE in each group) and 60 healthy controls.