Figure 2

Relationship of baseline three-gene-mean to other markers of Th2 airway inflammation and ICS response. Three-gene-mean values were measured from airway epithelial brushings acquired at bronchoscopy before and after 8 weeks of ICS. Covariates were also measured before and after ICS, and log-transformed to yield normally distributed values prior to statistical calculations. Scatterplots of covariates (on a log₁₀ scale) vs three-gene-mean are shown with least-squares linear regression lines before (black) and after (gray) ICS for the following variables: A. Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), r = 0.75, p = 0.00023 off ICS; r = 0.53, p = 0.024 on ICS. B. Blood eosinophils, r = 0.58, p = 0.003; r = 0.40, p = 0.071 on ICS. C. Total serum IgE, r = 0.33, p = 0.11 off ICS; r = 0.42, p = 0.067 on ICS. D. PC₂₀ to methacholine, r = -0.65, p = 0.0006 off ICS; PC₂₀ not obtained after ICS treatment.