Delta and Omicron infection only marginally altered mRNA expression of IL-1β (Delta vs Mock: p = 0.6114; Omicron vs Mock: p = 0.7534), IL-6 (p = 0.1910; p = 0.2619), IL-18 (p = 0.7755; p = 0.6092), TNF-α (p = 0.9080; p = 0.9405) and IFN-α (p = 0.0612; p = 0.2138) (Figs. 4A–4B, 4D–4E, 4G). Here, IL1B is linked to infection.