Pre-treatment of mice with both anti-inflammatory compounds markedly reduced the LPS-stimulated expression of ALI/COVID-19-related key genes, and Dex demonstrated more pronounced effects compared to SM, leading to statistically significant down-regulation of 4 of 5 analysed genes (Saa1, Rsad2, Rtp4, Mmp8), whereas administration of SM significantly decreased the expression of only 3 of 5 selected genes (Rsad2, Ifi44, Rtp4) (Fig 3E). The gene discussed is MMP8; the disease is COVID-19.