LPS + nigericin-induced IL-1β release from PBMCs from patients with severe asthma was significantly increased compared to other participant groups (non-severe asthma and healthy subjects combined, as there was no difference in LPS + nigericin-induced IL-1β between these groups) and stratification by sex (Additional file 1: Tables S3 and S4, Fig. 3A) or obesity status (Additional file 1: Tables S3 and S4, Fig. 3B) had no effects. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is asthma.