Table 1 Subjects' clinical and inflammatory characteristics out and during the pollen season

RCSS Score (%)

85 ± 14

59 ± 13

< 0.001

PC₂₀ (mg/mL) [min–max]

[19.59–> 64]

[5.23–> 64]

FEV₁ (% predicted)

100 ± 13

99 ± 13

NS

FVC (% predicted)

107 ± 14

105 ± 13

NS

FEV₁/FVC (%)

0.79 ± 0.05

0.79 ± 0.05

NS

Nasal peak flow (L/min)

134 ± 45

126 ± 53

NS

Serum IgE (UI/ml)

111 ± 87

118 ± 90

NS

Blood eosinophils (× 10⁹ cells/L)

0.15 ± 0.11

0.18 ± 0.11

0.02

Sputum eosinophils (%) (n = 8)

1.47 ± 2.44

2.06 ± 1.71

NS

CXCR4 circulating fibrocytes [mean fluorescence, median (25–75 Percentile)]

 All subjects (n = 26)

1814 [1261–2235]

1352 [814–1796]

0.02

 Tree pollen (n = 12)^a

1814 [1289–1995]

1762 [1282–1963]

NS

 Grass pollen (n = 6)^a

1798 [1633–2074]

744 [668–925]

< 0.001

 Ragweed pollen (n = 8)^a

2022 [1170–2572]

1394 [629–1507]

0.01

CXCL12 (plasma) (pg/mL)

2650 ± 485

2643 ± 475

NS

SCF (serum) (pg/mL)

828 ± 146

826 ± 151

NS

MMP-9/TIMP-1 (serum)

2.08 ± 0.91

2.21 ± 1.12

NS