Primary Outcome Measures :

Airway inflammation and remodeling: in bronchial biopsies

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Comparisons of bronchial biopsy features between groups:

• Bronchial epithelial morphology
• Bronchial mucosa (smooth muscle, reticular basement membrane, submucosal gland,...)

Subjects with current asthma or in remission of asthma from primary care clinics will be offered to participate to this study. Subjects with current asthma or in remission of asthma and healthy subjects will also be invited by advertisements in newspapers to volunteer for this study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• In remission of their asthma: absence of respiratory symptoms, no rescue asthma medication need and (for complete remission) an optimal pulmonary function (FEV1 > 90%) and normal PC20 methacholine for more than two years (with no current treatment).
• With a proven past history of asthma from medical files (reversible airway obstruction (>12% FEV1 after bronchodilator or 20% by other means) proven by spirometry, PEF measures or methacholine challenge according to current criteria + previous symptoms and asthma medication use), having no more asthma symptoms and not having used asthma medication for more than 2 years.
• Agree to sign the consent form.
• No other condition that could interfere with the study measurements.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects using inhaled or oral anti-inflammatory agents
• FEV1 < 1.2 L
• Unable to adhere to the protocol requirements.
• Other current respiratory disease
• Upper or lower respiratory tract infection or use of antibiotics < 1 month.
• Use of oral corticosteroids within the last 3 months.
• Signs or symptoms of progressive or uncontrolled renal, hepatic, hematologic, endocrine, pulmonary, cardiac, neurologic or cerebral disease