Table 1. Demography and spirometry data of the recruited subjects.

	Asthmatics	Healthy Controls
Age (years)	32.3±3.2	33.4±3.7
Males/females	6/4	6/4
Atopy (% of total)	80%	0
Duration of disease (years)	14.3±7.6	n/a
FEV1 (mean±SD)	58.65±2.56	105.3±6.51
Medications	Inhaled corticosteroids: Symbicort II (Budesonide/Formoterol)(160/4.5 ug) (1–2 inhalations twice daily); Anti-leukotriene:Singulair (montelukast sodium) (10 mg/d); Ventolin (albuterol)(as needed).	No

Except for the medications indicated above, the patients were not receiving any other immunosuppressive drugs. FEV₁ forced expiratory volume; FVC forced vital capacity.