Obesity, Metabolic Dysregulation and the Airway Epithelium in Asthmatics

Inclusion criteria

• 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.

Exclusion criteria

• all groups):
• Significant or uncontrolled concomitant medical illness (PI discretion) including, but not limited to heart disease, cancer, diabetes (HbAc1 \> 6.5), renal disease (creatinine \> 2.0) at Visit 0, neurological (brain damage) or psychiatric disorder (diagnosed by a mental health professional of behavioral or mental pattern that may cause suffering or a poor ability to function in life);
• Chronic renal failure (creatinine \> 2.0) at screening (associated with higher asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels);
• Current statins use (statins lower ADMA levels);
• On diabetic medications;
• Positive pregnancy test;
• Positive urine cotinine and/or urine tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) test;
• Current or recent (within 30 days) investigational treatment or participation in another interventional research study (including non-pharmacologic interventions);
• Unable or unlikely to complete study assessments or the study intervention (i.e. bronchoscopy) poses undue risk to patient in the opinion of the investigator.
• a. Specific to Asthma Groups i. Respiratory tract infection within the last 4 weeks; ii. Oral or systemic corticosteroids (CS) burst within the last 4 weeks; iii. Asthma-related hospitalization within the last 2 months; iv. Asthma-related ER visit within the previous 4 weeks.