The mechanism of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other respiratory diseases starts from an excessive release of cytokines and chemokines including IL6, TNFα, IL8, transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), and matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP9) (14–16) which triggers a cascade of inflammatory responses and cytokine storm, followed by pneumonia, severe damage to the airways, pulmonary edema, and eventually acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), making the disease fatal (17–19). The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.