Less significant were degree of asthma control (ACQ, F = 12.5, p<0.0001), race (F = 9.4, p<0.0001), degree of improvement in asthma symptoms after 4 weeks of treatment with HFA-BDP (F = 9.1, p<0.0001), age of onset/disease duration, lung function, airway hyperresponsiveness (PC20), leptin, adiponectin, biomarkers of systemic (hsCRP, TNFα), airway inflammation (FENO) and atopy (IgE). Here, TNF is linked to airway hyperresponsiveness.