Obesity, Metabolic Dysregulation and the Airway Epithelium in Asthmatics

Inclusion Criteria13

• For ALL Groups
• Adequate completion of informed consent process with written documentation
• Male and female patients, ≥ 18 - 65 years old
• Smoking history \<10 pack years and no smoking in the last year
• \*\*Subjects can be included in the study if they are on blood pressure treatment and are on a diet control/exercise only treatment of diabetes.
• Specific to Asthma Groups
• i. From all racial/ethnic backgrounds with a diagnosis of asthma based on physician diagnosis for \>6 months
• Specific to Metabolic Syndrome Group. Metabolic syndrome diagnosis based on having at least any three of: a. Triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dl; b. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol ≤ 50 mg/dl for women and ≤ 40 mg/dl for men; c Fasting blood glucose ≥ 100 mg/dl; d. Waist circumference \> 40 inches males and \> 35 inches females); e. Previously diagnosed hypertension or on antihypertensive medication; f. Blood pressure greater than 130/85 on two consecutive measurements.
• Specific to Non-Metabolic Syndrome Group a. Baseline pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume (FEV1) of 50% or greater of predicted with a 12% or greater bronchodilator (BD) response to 4 puffs of albuterol or PC20 methacholine (16 mg) if no BD response; b. BMI ≥ 30
• Metabolic syndrome diagnosis based on having at least any three of:
• i. Triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dl; ii. HDL cholesterol ≤ 50 mg/dl for women and ≤ 40 mg/dl for men; iii. Fasting blood glucose ≥ 100 mg/dl; iv. Waist circumference \> 40 inches males and \> 35 inches females); v. Previously diagnosed hypertension or on antihypertensive medication; vi. Blood pressure greater than 130/85 on two consecutive measurements.
• Specific to Non-Obese Group a. Body Mass Index (BMI) \< 30
• b. Specific to Non-Asthma Group i. No history of asthma or any other airway diseases; ii. Pulmonary function test within normal limits; iii. BMI ≥ 30.