Functional Activity of Airway Eosinophils in Allergic Disease

The purpose of this study is to determine how a special white blood cell, the eosinophil, can contribute to asthma. One of the characteristics of asthma is airway inflammation. Airway inflammation in asthma may occur when an allergen is inhaled and sets up an allergic reaction in the bronchial tubes. This reaction may lead to chest tightness, cough and wheeze. To better understand the way in which the eosinophil can cause inflammation, the investigators plan to study eosinophils that move in to the lung following an allergic reaction.