Recent studies report increased plasma levels of chemokines and cytokines, including CCL-2, CCL-3, RANTES, INFγ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, G-CSF, IP10, TNFα, and others, in severe cases of COVID-19 as compared to mild cases23,24, while decreased levels of lymphocytes are also commonly found in severe cases of SARS and COVID-19 patients25–30. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is COVID-19.