MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of highly conserved non-protein-coding nucleotide sequences with a length of approximately 20~ 22 nucleotides. miRNAs were first discovered in Caenorhabditis elegans. Since then, research on the function and mechanism of miRNAs has gradually increased. To date, studies have shown that miRNAs are involved in lung growth and development, inflammatory responses and immune regulation, and are closely related to the occurrence, development, and outcome of respiratory diseases. Identifying the targets of miRNAs and using miRNA interference technology to explore related signal transduction pathways will help enhance our understanding of related diseases and provide a basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. This article reviews the research background, formation mechanism, and biological function of miRNAs, as well as research and application progress in various respiratory inflammatory diseases. This will provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory inflammatory diseases.