Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation caused by destruction of the lung parenchyma and/or airway obstruction [1–3]. COPD is currently the third leading cause of death worldwide and poses a major public health burden globally . Moreover, COPD is associated with the development of lung cancer . There is no cure available for COPD and current drugs are mainly effective in improving symptoms and exacerbations but generally do not slow down the progression of the disease . Therefore, it is important to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of COPD for developing effective treatments of the disease.