In our study, we first showed that despite similar respiratory severity, plasma concentrations of numerous cytokines characterizing the “cytokine storm” (i.e. IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-15, TNF-α, CCL2, CCL4, CCL19, CCL20, TGF-α) were lower in COVID-19 compared to non-COVID-19 patients. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is COVID-19.