Furthermore, activated CD3- NK cells expressing CD16, CD56 and HLA-DR cell surface markers were detected at a significantly higher percentage in the COVID-19 patients (30.2%) compared to the VS (21.5%) (p= 0.05), but without significant difference to the HS (26%) (p> 0.05) (Figure 2C). This evidence concerns the gene NCAM1 and COVID-19.