We further checked the single-cell RNA-sequencing data of nasopharynx tissues27, and found that the expressions of RNA binding motif protein 7 (RBM7) in cells from nasopharynx tissues (such as neutrophils) are significantly higher in critical COVID-19 patients than those in moderate patients (adjusted P < 0.05; Supplementary Fig. S9). Here, RBM7 is linked to COVID-19.