In other small clinical trials, suplatast decreased blood and sputum eosinophils, blood and sputum eosinophil cationic protein levels, sputum mast cell tryptase levels, exhaled nitric oxide and airway responsiveness in patients with mild-moderate asthma or cough-variant asthma without causing significant side-effects [8]. This evidence concerns the gene RNASE3 and asthma.