TLR2 was shown to recognize the SARS-CoV-2 envelope E protein as its ligand and resulted in the TLR2-dependent cytokine (TNFα, GM-CSF, G-CSF, IL-6) and chemokine (CXCL10, MCP-1) release and lung damage in K18-hACE2 transgenic mice after infection with SARS-CoV-2. This evidence concerns the gene TLR2 and infection.