Interestingly, the listed genes reported as potent markers of critical illness in COVID-19 (CCL2, MMP8, IFI44, LCN2, SAA1) were identified by us as key regulators of both murine ALI and COVID-19-associated ARDS in human (Fig 5A) with the highest scores of degree centrality. The gene discussed is MMP8; the disease is COVID-19.