The present invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression of genes associated with respiratory and
pulmonary disease, such as
cholinergic muscarinic
receptor genes, using short interfering
nucleic acid (siNA) molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of
cholinergic muscarinic
receptor genes, or other genes involved in pathways of
cholinergic muscarinic
receptor gene expression and / or activity by
RNA interference (RNAi) using small
nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the instant invention features small
nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering
RNA (siRNA), double-stranded
RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of M3
muscarinic acetylcholine receptor or cholinergic receptor muscarinic 3 (CHRM3).