Severe COVID-19 and acute SCLS are both characterized by transient increases in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in circulation; some of these cytokines, including C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10, C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 and 3, interleukin -6, and tumor necrosis factor–α (Table 3), directly provoke endothelial barrier disruption (25–27). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is COVID-19.