Airway protease/antiprotease imbalance in atopic asthmatics contributes to increased Influenza A virus cleavage and replication

Table 1 Subject characteristics

	Healthy volunteer (n=7)	Atopic asthmatic (n=6)*
Age (mean years, SD)	25.4, 5.7	21.5, 2.4
Gender (F/M)	6/1	4/2
Skin prick test positivity (# of subjects, N)
Dust Mites	0	4
Trees	0	3
Grasses	0	4
Weeds	0	2
Cat/Dog	0	2
Cockroach	0	2
Race	4 Caucasian	4 Caucasian
	3 African American	1 African American
	3 African American	1 Native Pacific Islander
BMI (Mean, SD)	26.1, 4.8	23, 2.5

* Atopy was defined by positive epicutaneous skin testing. Asthma status was defined by history, spirometry, and positive methacholine testing. Healthy volunteers were not atopic, nor were they taking any systemic or topical medications. Atopic asthmatics (mild intermittent asthmatics) had to be free of antihistamine use at least 1 week prior to study procedures. They were not taking nasal steroids, inhaled steroids, or leukotriene receptor antagonists.

ISSN: 1465-993X