EGFR and asthma: AREG levels in sputum, airway epithelium, and peripheral blood basophils were significantly increased in patients with asthma.[33] Okumura study found that AREG and EGFR expression levels in nasal mucosa epithelial cells of children with asthma were significantly elevated compared with healthy people.[34] The incidence of asthma is increased in people with rhinovirus infection.