Sample Collection in Smoking Asthma

Inclusion Criteria (healthy subjects): * Male or female, between 18 and 55 years of age, inclusive. * no clinically significant abnormalities. * able to produce an adequate induced sputum sample. * no history of chronic respiratory disease including asthma. * no history of allergic symptoms e.g., allergic rhinitis, eczema. * No other acute illness in the 6 weeks prior to Visit 1. Additional Inclusion Criterion for Healthy Smoking Subjects * Be a smoker for \>/= 1 year. Additional Inclusion Criteria (Persistent Asthmatic Subjects): * No contraindications to the procedures in this study. * Symptoms compatible with asthma for at least 6 months prior to screening * Pre-bronchodilator FEV1 \>/=50% predicted at Visit 1. * clinically stable asthma for at least 6 weeks prior to Visit 1. * No acute illness including asthma exacerbation requiring augmentation of therapy in the 6 weeks prior to Visit 1. * on current asthma controller therapy for \>/= 6 weeks prior to Visit 1. Additional Inclusion for Steroid Naïve Asthmatics (smoking or non-smoking) * Must not have received a regular course of inhaled or oral corticosteroids for at least 3 months prior to Visit 1. Additional Inclusion for Smoking Asthmatics * Be a smoker for \>/= 1 year prior to Visit 1. Exclusion Criteria (healthy): * History of any clinically significant medical illness or medical disorders. * Diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, or other significant respiratory disorder including significant occupational or environmental exposures with ongoing respiratory symptoms. * bronchodilator response of \>/=12% and at least 200 mL from baseline or an FEV1 value \<85% of predicted value at Visit 1. * positive urine pregnancy screening result. * recent history (within previous 6 months) of alcohol or drug abuse. * Positive urine toxicology screen for substances of abuse * positive serology test for HIV antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), or hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) at Visit 1. * Received an experimental antibody or biologic therapy within the 6 months prior to Visit 1, or received any other experimental therapy or new investigational agent within 60 days of Visit 1. * Is an employee or family member of the investigator, study centre or Sponsor. * Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would complicate or compromise the study, or the well-being of the subject. * Use of any antioxidants within 1 week of Visit 1 and throughout the study period. * known allergies, hypersensitivity, or intolerance to short acting β-agonists (SABA). Additional Exclusion Criterion for Healthy Non-smoking Subjects * subject is a smoker (regular or irregular), or has smoked or used nicotine-containing products within the 6 months prior to Visit 1. Additional Exclusion Criteria (Persistent Asthma Subjects): * Diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM), or occupational asthma. * Diagnosis of COPD, cystic fibrosis, or other significant respiratory disorder including significant occupational or environmental exposures with ongoing respiratory symptoms. * Use of theophylline, N-acetyl cysteine, or any other anti-oxidants within 1 week of Visit 1 and throughout the study period. * positive test for tuberculosis at Visit 1. Additional Exclusion Criterion for Non-smoking Asthmatic Subjects * subject is a smoker (regular or irregular), or has smoked or used nicotine-containing products within the 6 months prior to Visit 1.