Expression of TMPRSS2
TMPRSS2 levels did not significantly differ between SA, MMA, and HV in any of airway compartments analysed (Fig 1B, E and H ). Among asthmatics, no baseline parameters were associated with sputum TMPRSS2 levels (Table 1 and Fig 2A ). However, TMPRSS2 levels in bronchial brushing were significantly related to male gender and body mass index (BMI) on multivariate analysis (0.401; 95% CI: 0.027 to 0.775; p =0.036; and 0.035; 95% CI: 0.005 to 0.066;p =0.022, respectively; Fig 2B ). In bronchial biopsies, TMPRSS2 levels were positively associated with blood neutrophils (%) (0.350; 95% CI: 0.040 to 0.661; p =0.027; Fig 2C ).