Fig. 1.

Induced sputum cells of asthma patients show altered mRNA expression of galectins (gal) and Th2 cytokines. Total RNA was isolated from induced sputum of asthma patients (n = 16) and healthy donors (n = 11), and real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) was performed. (a) Gal-1, gal-3 and gal-9 mRNA expression. (b) Interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13 mRNA expression. mRNA levels are expressed as arbitrary units respect to β-actin expression. Differences between groups were tested by Mann–Whitney U-test. Bars correspond to mean ± standard error of the mean.