IL6 and COVID-19: More importantly, although the role of IL-6 in the pathological development of COVID-19 has attracted much attention (3), its specific role remains controversial (9–12), and several experimental models of viral lung infections suggest that IL-6 demonstrates either pathogenic (39)or protective (40) effects in vivo; the consequences of IL-6 induction in COVID-19 may vary depending on the stage of infection and the immune status of the host.