<p> (a) (b)</p><p>Figure 1. Sputum neutrophil percentages (a) and eosinophil percentages (b) in lean and overweight/obese subjects with stable asthma. Horizontal bars represent mean (a) and median (b) concentrations. Figure 2. Proportion of neutrophilic asthma (sputum neutrophils ≥ 61%) in overweight/obese versus lean asthma subjects. (a) (b)</p><p>Figure 3. Sputum (a) and plasma IL-17 (b) concentrations in lean and overweight/obese patients with stable asthma. Horizontal bars represent median concentrations. (a) (b)</p><p>(c) (d)</p><p>Figure 4. Association of sputum IL-17concentrations with sputum neutrophlil percentages (a) and sputum eosinophil percentages (b) and association of plasma IL-17 concentrations with sputum neutrophlil percentage (c) and eosinophil percentage (d) in patients with stable persistent asthma. Figure 5. Sputum neutrophil percentages (a) and eosinophil percentages (b) in lean and overweight/obese subjects with acute asthma. Horizontal bars represent mean (a) and median (b) concentrations. Figure 6. Sputum (a) and plasma IL-17 (b) concentrations in lean and overweight/obese patients with acute asthma. Horizontal bars represent median concentrations. (a) (b)</p><p>(c) (d)</p><p>Figure 7. Association of sputum IL-17concentrations with sputum neutrophlil percentages (a) and sputum eosinophil percentages (b) and association of plasma IL-17 concentrations with sputum neutrophlil percentage (c) and eosinophil percentage (d) in patients with acute asthma. Table 1. Characteristics of lean (BMI < 24 kg/m2) and overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2) patients with stable persistent asthma.</p><p>BMI < 24 kg/m2 BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 P value</p><p>Female (%) 29 (48.3) 45 (59.2) 0.206</p><p>Age (year) 41.5 (31.5, 51.8) 44.0 (34.0, 54.8) 0.314</p><p>BMI (kg/m2) 22.3 (21.2, 23.1) 31.7 (26.7, 36.1) 0.000</p><p>Smoking (%) 18 (30.0) 17 (22.4) 0.312</p><p>Plasma IL-17 (pg/ml) 8.725 (5.205, 18.088) 12.458 (6.712, 22.468) 0.072</p><p>Sputum IL-17 (pg/ml) 3.552 (2.306, 5.920) 5.047 (2.955, 8.461) 0.015</p><p>FEV1% predicted 86.9 (15.6) 85.4(15.3) 0.565</p><p>FVC% predicted 95.3 (14.1) 92.1 (14.0) 0.190</p><p>Sputum neutrophils (%) 42.1(18.9) 48.1(21.3) 0.091</p><p>Neutrophilic asthma (%) 11 (18.3) 26 (34.2) 0.039</p><p>Sputum eosinophils (%) 1.9 (0.3, 7.6) 1.8 (0.3, 4.5) 0.654</p><p>Eosinophilic asthma (%) 24 (40.0) 26 (34.2) 0.487</p><p>OSAS (%) 5 (8.3) 14 (18.4) 0.092</p><p>GER (%) 13 (21.7) 27 (35.5) 0.078</p><p>BDI II score 8.0 (5.0, 12.8) 9.0 (7.0, 15.8) 0.056</p><p>ICS use (%) 8 (13.3) 12 (15.8) 0.688</p><p>ICS dose# (g/d) 0 (0, 0) 0 (0, 0) 0.636</p><p>ACQ-5 score 0.9 (0.6, 1.4) 1.2 (0.7, 1.6) 0.082</p><p>Data are presented as mean (standard deviation) or median (interquartile range) or number </p><p>(percentage). BMI: body mass index; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC: forced vital capacity; OSA, obstructive sleep apnea; GER, gastro-esophageal reflux; BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; ICS: inhaled corticosteroid; ACQ: Asthma Control Questionnaire; #: Beclomethasone equivalents. Table 2. Multiple linear regression model for predicting sputum neutrophil percentage using sputum IL-17, sex, age, BMI, smoking status, ICS dose as covariates.</p><p>Unadjusted model Adjusted model</p><p>β Standard P β Standard P coefficient error value coefficient error value</p><p>Female (yes/no) -1.184 4.199 0.778</p><p>Age (year) 0.191 0.145 0.189</p><p>BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 4.107 3.465 0.238 (yes/no)</p><p>Smoking 2.794 4.846 0.565 (yes/no)</p><p>ICS dose (g/d) 0.003 0.005 0.596</p><p>Sputum IL-17 1.032 0.340 0.003 1.191 0.325 < (pg/ml) 0.001</p><p>BMI: body mass index; ICS: inhaled corticosteroid.</p><p>Table 3. Multiple linear regression model for predicting sputum neutrophil percentage using plasma IL-17, sex, age, BMI, smoking status, ICS dose as covariates.</p><p>Unadjusted model Adjusted model</p><p>β Standard P β Standard P coefficient error value coefficient error value</p><p>Female (yes/no) 0.899 4.279 0.834</p><p>Age (year) 0.254 0.146 0.084 0.287 0.140 0.042</p><p>BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 4.894 3.532 0.168 (yes/no)</p><p>Smoking 2.645 4.964 0.595 (yes/no)</p><p>ICS dose (g/d) 0.004 0.006 0.498 Sputum IL-17 0.167 0.097 0.088 (pg/ml)</p><p>BMI: body mass index; ICS: inhaled corticosteroid.</p><p>Table 4. Correlation between sputum and plasma IL-17 and existence of OAS, GER and depression.</p><p>Sputum IL-17 Plasma IL-17</p><p>Rs P value Rs P value</p><p>OSA 0.010 0.906 0.086 0.322</p><p>GER 0.048 0.580 0.087 0.314</p><p>BDI II score 0.111 0.198 0.325 < 0.001</p><p>OSA, obstructive sleep apnea; GER, gastro-esophageal reflux; BDI, Beck Depression Inventory.</p><p>Table 5. Characteristics of lean (BMI < 24 kg/m2) and overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2) patients with acute asthma.</p><p>BMI < 24 kg/m2 BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 P value</p><p>Female (%) 52.0 61.9 0.500</p><p>Age (year) 35.0 (9.3) 42.1(11.3) 0.022</p><p>BMI (kg/m2) 22.2 (21.5, 23.3) 33.2(27.6, 38.2) 0.000</p><p>Smoking (%) 24.0 33.3 0.484</p><p>26.276 (12.889, 23.057 (11.466, 0.903 Plasma IL-17 (pg/ml) 57.974) 64.438)</p><p>Sputum IL-17 10.161 (5.207, 11.053 (7.230, 0.544 (pg/ml) 18.862) 21.196)</p><p>Sputum eosinophils 8.0 (5.3, 33.5) 9.0 (4.3, 24.3) 0.766 (%)</p><p>Sputum neutrophils 55.7 (21.7) 55.3 (17.5) 0.941 (%) Pulse (beat/min) 104.0 (14.4) 102.6 (13.3) 0.746</p><p>Respiratory rate 23.6 (4.8) 23.9 (5.0) 0.861 (breaths/min)</p><p>Accessory muscle 7 (28.0) 5 (23.8) 0.747 use (%)</p><p>Wheezing (%) 24 (96.0) 19 (90.5) 0.450</p><p>Diaphoresis (%) 3 (12.0) 2 (9.5) 0.788</p><p>Initial FEV1 % 50.5 (12.8) 53.7 (11.5) 0.379 predicted</p><p>SaO2 (%) 95.0 (93.5, 96.0) 95.0 (94.0, 96.0) 0.937</p><p>Duration of 0.874 exacerbation</p><p>Less than 1 day (%) 15 (60.0) 11 (52.4)</p><p>1 - 2 days (%) 8 (32.0) 8 (38.1)</p><p>More than 2 days 2 (8.0) 2 (9.5) (%)</p><p>Cause of asthma exacerbation</p><p>Upper respiratory 14 (56.0) 14 (66.7) 0.460 infections (%)</p><p>Exposure to 8 (32.0) 5 (23.8) 0.539 allergens (%)</p><p>Therapy 1 (4.0) 2 (9.5) 0.876 interruption (%)</p><p>Others (%) 2 (8.0) 0 (0) 0.549</p><p>Inhaled β-agonists 25 (100.0) 21 (100.0) 1.000 (%)</p><p>Inhaled 5 (20.0) 2 (9.5) 0.566 anticholinergics (%)</p><p>Systemic 23 (92.0) 21 (100.0) 0.549 corticosteroids (%) Intravenous 0 (0) 2 (9.5) 0.394 magnesium (%)</p><p>Data are presented as mean (standard deviation) or median (interquartile range) or number </p><p>(percentage). BMI: body mass index; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 second; SaO2: arterial oxygen saturation; ICS: inhaled corticosteroid.</p>