Limiting CRS is especially important for COVID-19 patients, who often display a cytokine storm even in the absence of such therapies, with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, and MCP-1) that severely damage pulmonary tissue34,44–46. The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is congenital rubella syndrome.