Table 1 Characteristics of participants (N = 56) and the comparison of ACE2 expression of AMs between subgroups.

From: Cigarette smoke increases susceptibility of alveolar macrophages to SARS-CoV-2 infection through inducing reactive oxygen species-upregulated angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 expression

Characteristic

Number (%)

Mean (SD) ACE2a

P-valueb

Age (years)

  > 65

25 (44.6)

12.04 (1.25)

0.387

  ≤ 65

31 (55.4)

11.77 (1.10)

Sex

 Male

41 (73.2)

11.94 (1.15)

0.580

 Female

15 (26.8)

11.74 (1.22)

Overweight

 BMI ≥ 24

25 (44.6)

11.71 (1.27)

0.310

 BMI < 24

31 (55.4)

12.03 (1.07)

Smoking status

 Current smoker

22 (39.3)

12.29 (1.01)

0.037

 Not current smoker

34 (60.7)

11.63 (1.20)

COPD

 Yes

22 (39.3)

12.18 (1.22)

0.126

 No

34 (60.7)

11.70 (1.10)

Lung cancer

 Yes

30 (53.6)

11.84 (1.20)

0.757

 No

26 (46.4)

11.94 (1.14)

CVD

 Yes

21 (37.5)

11.71 (0.86)

0.333

 No

35 (62.5)

11.99 (1.31)

DM

 Yes

10 (17.9)

11.74 (1.11)

0.657

 No

46 (82.1)

11.92 (1.18)

RAAS inhibitor use

 Yes

5 (8.9)

12.10 (1.40)

0.673

 No

51 (90.1)

11.87 (1.15)

  1. ACE2 angiotensin converting enzyme 2, AM alveolar macrophage, BMI body mass index, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, CVD Cardiovascular disease, DM diabetes mellitus, RAAS Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone.
  2. aACE2 of AMs were measured by flow cytometry, and the mean fluorescence index value was transformed by log2.
  3. bCalculated by Student’s t test.
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