Legend to Figures:
Fig 1. Comparison of ACE2, TMPRSS2 and FURIN gene expression
levels (box-and-whisker plots showing median and interquartile range)
between healthy volunteers and asthmatics in different airway
compartments. ACE2 (A, D, G), TMPRSS2 (B, E, H) and FURIN (C, F, I) mRNA
expression was assessed in sputum (A-C), bronchial brushings (D-F), and
bronchial biopsies (G-I) compartments from healthy volunteers and
asthmatics of different severity. Abbreviations: SA, severe asthmatics;
MMA, mild-to-moderate asthmatics; HV, healthy volunteers;
ns, not significant (p> 0.05). P values were determined by one-way ANOVA
and Tukey’s multiple comparison tests.
Fig 2. Forest plots showing associations between gene
expression of ACE2, TMPRRS2 and FURIN, and baseline characteristics in
(A) sputum, (B) bronchial brushings and (C) bronchial biopsies of
asthmatics. Regression coefficients (95% confidence intervals) andp values were determined using multivariate linear regression
tests for each gene expression level (as a dependent variable) and
baseline parameters including age, gender, and those showing pvalues < 0.05 in univariate regression tests (shown in Table
1) as independent variables. All independent variables included in each
multivariate model are presented. Gene expression levels and
inflammatory cell counts (in sputum and blood) were log-transformed to
normalize the distribution. Statically significant parameters (p< 0.05) are indicated with red color in symbol. Abbreviations:
FEV1: Forced expiratory volume in the first second; OCS:
Oral corticosteroid use; post-BD: post bronchodilator.
Fig 3. Scatter dot plots
showing correlations between sputum FURIN gene expression levels and (A)
neutrophils (%), (B) enrichment score (ES) of neutrophil activation
gene signature and (C) ES of IL6-trans-signaling (IL6-TS) gene signature
in sputum of asthmatics (n=104). Correlation coefficients and pvalues were determined by Spearman’s tests.
Fig 4. Comparison of (A) ACE2, (B) TMPRSS2 and (C) FURIN gene
expression levels across transcriptomic-associated clusters (TACs) in
sputum samples. Data shown as box-and-whisker plots showing median and
interquartile range. Abbreviations: ns, not significant (p> 0.05). P values were determined by one-way ANOVA
and Tukey’s multiple comparison tests.