HGF and COVID-19: Among patients with COVID-19, IP-10, IL-8, MCP1, HGF (hepatocyte growth factor) and MIP-1β were significantly up-regulated compared to healthy controls, in addition to apparent (but not statistically significant) trends for increases in MIG (monokine induced by interferon gamma), granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF), IL-1RA, IL-2, IL-17f, and IL-6 (Fig. 2B and fig.