CXCL8 and COVID-19: For example, pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines CXCL8 (q < 2.0 × 10−16, Fig. 5b), IL18 (q = 0.009), and IL1B (q < 2.0 × 10−16, Supplementary Fig. 5b) were elevated in monocytes from male patients with severe COVID-19 compared to females.