TGF-(Beta) and Susceptibility to RSV

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. Use of oral steroid treatment(s) within 30 days of Visit 1
• •2. Acute asthma-related healthcare utilization within 30 days of Visit 1, such as ED visits, systemic corticosteroids, and nebulizer treatment for asthma exacerbation
• •3. Known or suspected respiratory infections within 30 days of Visit 1, such as flu, pneumonia, severe cold, tuberculosis, or bronchitis
• •4. Known or suspected viral infection within 30 days of Visit 1
• •5. History of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease other than asthma
• •6. History of immunological disease or current cancer
• •7. Uncontrolled cardiovascular disease such as angina, prior myocardial infarction, stroke, and high cholesterol
• •8. Cardiac malformations
• •9. Pulmonary hypertension
• •10. Bleeding disorders
• •11. Facial deformity, major facial surgery
• •12. Currently pregnant or breast feeding
• •13. Current smoker, significant second-hand smoke exposure (defined by urine cotinine \> 100 ng/ml at Visit 1 or Visit 2) or former smokers (defined by a history of smoking \> 100 cigarettes)
• •14. Insulin dependent diabetes
• •15. Used any of the following medications within 30 days of Visit 1: oral corticosteroids, systemic immunosuppressants or other immune-modifying drugs \[e.g., Rituxan, Humira, Enbrel, Azathioprine (Imuran), Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, and SangCya), cyclophosphamide, TNF antagonists\], anticoagulants (clopidogrel, heparin, enoxaparin and related drugs, coumadin), and sustained use (i.e. more than one dose per day for more than two days) of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin) within seven days of bronchoscopy
• •16. Allergy or history of adverse reactions to methacholine or lidocaine
• •17. Severe asthma as defined by a history of intubation for unstable asthma
• •18. Any condition that, in the investigator's opinion, places the participant at undue risk for complications (e.g. from PFTs, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, bronchalveolar lavage and/or bronchial brushings)
• •19. Temperature \> 37.6 C; blood pressure \< 90/50 mm Hg or blood pressure \>170/95 mm Hg; pulse rate \< 50 or \> 100 beats/minute
• •20. Body weight \< 50 kg (\<110 lbs)
• •21. The following abnormal lab values (values obtained during clinical assessment):
• •* Platelet count \< 100,000 per 10(9)/L
• •* White blood cells count \< 3000 per 10(9)/L
• •* Hematocrit \< 35% for both female and male
• •* Prothrombin Time (PT) / Abnormal International Normalized Ratio (INR) and partial prothromboplastin time (PTT) based on reference laboratory established reference ranges
• •* Serum creatinine \> 1.4 mg/dL