In addition to the virus itself causing alveolar damage, an immunocompromised system poses further challenge to treating patients who are critically ill with COVID-19 that have elevated levels of IL-1β, interferon (IFN)–γ, IFN-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), which activate T-helper (Th)1 cell responses. The gene discussed is IFNA1; the disease is COVID-19.