Fricker M, Qin L, Niessen N, et al. - Researchers focused on quantifying mast cells (MCs) in induced sputum samples as well as on studying their link with airway and circulatory immune cells, as well as clinical variables in asthma. This study included 51 participants, comprising 45 asthma and 6 non‐asthma controls. Significant intercorrelation of MCs, basophils and eosinophils was detected in asthma sputum, and high MCs and basophils were evident in participants with eosinophilic asthma. The correlation of MCs and basophils, but not eosinophils, with airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was also revealed. A raised proportion of participants with uncontrolled asthma, and decreased FEV₁ and FVC were shown to characterize sputum MC high asthma. Overall, high sputum MCs were identified in asthma, and likely usefulness of their measurement was suggested because they relate to key clinical characteristics of asthma (spirometry, asthma control, AHR). Airway MC status was not predicted by peripheral blood eosinophil count, this is suggestive of the need for further development of direct measurement of airway MCs via sensitive methods such as flow cytometry.