Incubation of these cells with S100A8/A9 dimer, a potent proinflammatory signaling molecule that is abundant in inflamed tissues from patients with COVID-19,8,36,37 upregulated the expression of IFN (interferon)-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α (Figure 7B through 7F). This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and COVID-19.