Fig. 1

2D visualisation of the relationships between serum MMP-8, serum CRP, serum albumin and serum cytokine levels in Cohort 1. Individual variables are represented by nodes and their associations are represented by edges (connecting lines). Only the associations with Pearson r > 0.400 or Pearson r < −0.300 are shown, and the edge length illustrates the significance of the association. Grey edges indicate associations between cytokines, CRP and albumin, while the correlations between MMP-8 and cytokines are represented by green (positive correlation) edges, with the label indicating corresponding Pearson r for the correlation. CCL Chemokine (C–C motif) ligand, CRP C-reactive protein, CXCL Chemokine (C–X–C motif) ligand, IFN interferon, IL interleukin, MMP matrix metalloproteinase, PDGF platelet-derived growth factor