Inflammatory Cellular Trafficking in Asthma in Response to Segmental Allergen Challenge
Asthma is a heterogeneous disorder in which multiple potential inflammatory pathways contribute to airway obstruction. The biological basis for airway inflammation is the subject of intensive investigation. This work is designed to identify airway factors that are responsible for recruiting cells and associate their airway presence with atopy and asthma.
• All subjects will have a baseline FEV1 determined at the characterization visit that is no less than 75 % of the predicted value.
• All subjects will have a clinical history of allergic symptoms to cat or dust mite allergen and demonstrated skin reactivity (a positive allergen prick test).
• Life-long absence of cigarette smoking (defined as a lifetime total of less than 5 pack-years); none in 5 years).
• Willing and able to give informed consent.
• Expressed the desire to participate in an interview with the principal investigator.
• Age between 18 and 50 years.
• ANA subjects will have a history of either (a) allergic rhinitis (with one or more of the following symptoms: nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drainage), (b) allergic conjunctivitis (ocular itching, tearing and/or swelling) or (c) contact allergy associated with cat dander or dust mite and a positive allergy test to the same allergen.
• All subjects will have a baseline FEV1 and FVC determined at the characterization visit that is no less than 90 % of the predicted value.
• All subjects will have a positive allergy skin prick test to cat dander or dust mite allergen.
• All subjects will be in good general health.
• Life-long absence of cigarette smoking (defined as a lifetime total of less than 5 pack-years and none in 5 years).
• Willing and able to give informed consent.
• Expressed the desire to participate in an interview with the principal investigator.
• Age between 18 and 50 years.