This channel has also been linked to the response to contaminating particles, such as those from diesel exhaust (Li et al, 2011), and it has recently been proposed as a pharmacological target for patients with COVID-19, where inhibition of TRPV4 may reduce lethality by contributing to alveolo-capillary barrier preservation (Goyal et al, 2019). The gene discussed is TRPV4; the disease is COVID-19.