The number of eotaxin+ and CCR3+ cells was significantly higher in exacerbated chronic bronchitis (P<0.003 and P<0.002) and asthma (P<0.002 and P<0.0001) when compared to healthy subjects.
However, the numbers of lymphomononuclear cells expressing eotaxin mRNA were significantly greater in the smokers with CB than in the healthy nonsmokers without CB (p < 0.01).