IL6 and asthma: Dexamethasone (100 nM) alone and BIRB-796 (100 nM) alone did not significantly inhibit IL-6 release in either asthma patients or controls (Fig. 6). Dexamethasone (100 nM) alone significantly inhibited CXCL8 in asthma patients, BIRB-796 (100 nM) alone significantly inhibited CXCL8 in both asthma patients and controls. Dexamethasone in combination with BIRB-796 caused significant inhibition of IL-6 and CXCL8 in both asthma patients and controls (p < 0.05 both comparisons) with inhibition significantly increased above dexamethasone alone in both groups for IL-6 but not CXCL8.