While IFN-α and IFN-β were undetectable, IL-10, IL-17A and IL-18 were variably detected in COVID-19 BALF, with higher RNA and/or protein levels of IL-6, MCP-1 and IL-33 and lower IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) observed in COVID-19 BALF compared to healthy BALF19,20. Here, IL6R is linked to COVID-19.