IGHE and asthma: 2016). This disorder affects approximately 20% of the population worldwide and exerts considerable economic burdens for either patients or healthcare systems (Ellwood et al. 2017; Nunes et al. 2017). Asthma is characterized by elevated levels of T helper (Th)-2 cytokines (e.g., interleukin (IL)-13) and immunoglobulin E (IgE) as well as inflammation (Russell and Brightling 2017). Moreover, another important characteristic of asthma is airway remodelling (i.e., goblet cell hyperplasia and subepithelial fibrosis) resulting in irreversible loss of lung function (Fahy 2015).