Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the key regulatory miRNA-486-5p and underlying molecular mechanisms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) progression.Methods: Aberrant miRNA expression in smokers compared to non-smokers and COPD compared to normal was analyzed using microarray datasets and reverse-transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). ELISA assay was used to determine the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in cell supernatants. Inflammatory cytokine expression, including HAT1, TLR4, and miR-486-5p, was determined using qPCR or western blotting. Luciferase reporter assays and fluorescence in situ hybridization were used to confirm the target regulation between miR-486-6p and HAT1. Results: Our results showed that miR-486-5p was significantly up-regulated in the COPD and smoker groups compared to the control group based on bioinformatics analysis and qPCR validation of alveolar macrophages and peripheral monocytes. miR-218-5p expression significantly correlated with IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ expression. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-486-5p directly targets HAT1, and cellular localization showed that miR-486-5p and HAT1 were highly expressed in the cytoplasm. miR-486-5p overexpression led to significant TLR4 up-regulation and significant HAT1 down-regulation. Inversely, miR-486-5p inhibition led to significant TLR4 down-regulation and significant HAT1 up-regulation. HAT1 knockdown using siRNA significantly increased TLR4, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ expression. Conclusions: miR-486-5p was differentially expressed in alveolar macrophages of COPD patients. miR-486-5p overexpression might increase the TLR4-triggered inflammatory response in COPD patients by targeting HAT1.