The exacerbated inflammation that is also found in severe COVID-19 cases is mediated especially through the uncontrolled production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and TNF-α in the cytokine release syndrome (41, 42). The gene discussed is CCL2; the disease is COVID-19.