Expressions of TRPV1 in Airway of Asthmatics

Inclusion Criteria: * Competent to understand informed consent * Diagnosis of moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma. * Clinical need for diagnostic bronchoscopy for assessment of asthmatic symptoms (e.g., to assess presence of chronic infection with non-tuberculous mycobacteria or other infectious agents as a cause for lack of asthma control) or therapeutic bronchoscopy for management of asthmatic symptoms (e.g., thermoplasty). * Asthmatic subjects with history of positive skin test to confirm presence of allergy. * Asthmatic subjects with pre-albuterol forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) of \<70% of the predicted value. * Non-asthmatic patients will include those patients with solitary pulmonary nodules and healthy individuals with acute lung atelectasis (e.g. airway blocked by mucus plugs or foreign object). * Scheduled for a diagnostic or therapeutic bronchoscopy procedure. Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to perform pulmonary function testing * Unstable asthma control for asthmatic subjects * An asthma exacerbation within the past month * History of intubation for asthma * History of smoking * History of prematurity * History of any lung disease or disorder except asthma * History of congenital or acquired heart disease * Pregnant/lactating females * Any serious concurrent systemic disease including but not limited to diabetes, coronary artery disease, vasculitis, etc. * History of heart arrhythmias including supraventricular tachycardia