CD8A and COVID-19: While the immune response in asymptomatic patients and patients with mild COVID-19 is characterized by infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, IFN-driven Th1 response and production of neutralizing antibodies by plasma cells, an aberrant immune response with excessive inflammation, increased expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines characterizes severe and critical COVID-19 illness (Garcia, 2020; Brodin, 2021).