Specifically, in scRNA-seq data sets, an increased abundance of monocyte-derived macrophages was associated with increased transcriptional expression of CCL2/3/4 and IL1B, as well as several members of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily (TNF, TNFSF10, TNFSF12, and TNFSF13B), in severe infection compared with moderate COVID-19 and/or healthy controls.26,49 Importantly, the proteins encoded by these genes all have receptors in thoracic hDRG, and thus their increased expression in BALF may modulate sensory innervation in the lung. Here, TNF is linked to infection.