The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating a subject afflicted with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which comprise a i) a Liver X receptor (LXR) agonist, ii) a miR-33 antagonist, or iii) a TLR4/Myd88 pathway antagonist. The present invention also provides methods and compositions for use in prophylactically treating a subject for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which comprise i) a Liver X receptor (LXR) agonist, ii) a miR-33 antagonist, or iii) a TLR4/Myd88 pathway antagonist.