Methods for the treatment or prevention of diseases which are caused by the degradation of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) in cells are described. The diseases which may be treated by the methods of the invention include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. The invention provides methods for treating or preventing of diseases caused by the degradation of HDAC2 by providing to the subject in need of treatment or prevention a molecular compound capable of preventing the degradation of HDAC2. Such molecular compounds include protein kinase CK2 inhibitors, ubiquitination inhibitors, ubiquitin-proteosome inhibitors, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) activators and MAPK phosphatase 1 activators. Methods are also provided for the treatment and prevention of diseases caused by the degredation of HDAC2 by interfering with the expression of protein kinase CK2 or by increasing expression of Nrf2.
