VEGFA and susceptibility to pneumonia measurement: Elevated plasma levels of IL-1β, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFNγ, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, PDGF, TNFα, and VEGF have been measured in both ICU (intensive care unit) patients and non-ICU patients, with significantly higher plasma levels of IL-2, IL-7, IL-10, G-CSF, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, and TNFα found in patients with severe pneumonia developing ARDS and requiring ICU admission and oxygen therapy compared to non-ICU patients showing pneumonia without ADRS [25,37].