Fig. 2
Identification of differentially expressed genes and putative molecular drivers. Differentially expressed genes were identified comparing acute exacerbation versus convalescence in (A) with DESeq2 analysis and (B) LIMMA in independent samples (GSE16032). (A/C) Volcano plots showing the –log10(adjusted P-value) plotted against the log2 fold change, in (A) atopic asthmatic children (n = 19), and in (C) independent samples (GSE16032) consisting of atopic asthmatic children (n = 25). Upregulated genes = red. (B/D) Top molecular drivers identified employing the Ingenuity Knowledge Base. Red = activated driver, blue = inhibited driver. Absolute activation Z-scores ≥ 2.0 and P-values ≥ 0.01 were deemed significant. FTP = fluticasone propionate, DEX = dexamethasone. (E) Venn diagram illustrating the overlap of target genes from the drivers LPS, TGFB1 and glucocorticoid. (F) LPS was measured with limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay (Endotoxin Unit = EU) and (G) the LPS binding protein (LPB) was increased in plasma at AV relative to CV. The P-value is derived from a Wilcoxon test for paired analysis, ***,<0.001