Anakinra as a Rescue Treatment for Allergic Inflammation

Inclusion Criteria: * Males and females ages 18-45 years, inclusive * Subjects will have mild asthma characterized by a Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) of at least 75% of predicted and FEV1/FVC (Forced Vital Capacity) ratio of at least .60 (without use of bronchodilator medications for 12 hours), consistent with lung function of persons with mild episodic or mild persistent asthma. For the purpose of this protocol, an asthmatic individual will be defined as having a) positive methacholine challenge with a provocative concentration (PC) of methacholine producing a 20% fall in FEV1 (Provocative Concentration to decrease FEV1 by 20% (PC20) methacholine) with less than or equal to 10 mg/ml; OR b) physician-diagnosed asthma. * OR non-asthmatic individuals with allergic rhinitis * Allergic sensitization to house dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) OR cat (Felis catus) as confirmed by positive immediate skin prick test response (identified previously on a general screening visit) * Negative pregnancy test for females who are not status post hysterectomy with oophorectomy or who have not been amenorrheic for 12 months or more. * Ability to withhold antihistamine medications for one week prior to baseline and allergen challenge visits. * Negative quantiferon gold TB test positive tuberculosis (TB) test is a contraindication to anakinra injection). A negative TB test within the past year (either tuberculin skin test (TST) with less than 5 mm induration or negative quantif…