Severe COVID-19 and advanced age are both correlated with biomarkers of systemic inflammation [35], such as the neutrophil/leukocyte ratio (NLR) [36], weaker type-I IFN responses [37], NLRP3 inflammasome activation [38], and IL-6, IL-12 and IL-1β secretion [39]. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is COVID-19.