POSTN and asthma: Periostin is an ECM protein upregulated by T helper cell type 2 (Th2) cytokines in bronchial epithelial cells and lung fibroblasts and is deposited in patients with asthma and atopic dermatitis, as well as in animal models of asthma and allergic skin inflammation (Yuyama et al., 2002; Takayama et al., 2006; Hayashi et al., 2007; Woodruff et al., 2007; Masuoka et al., 2012).