Monocytes5–9, antigen-presenting cells10, natural killer (NK) cells5,6,11, T cells5–7,12 and B cells5–7 are all reported to be related to the severity of COVID-19, while a dysregulated interferon (IFN) response8,14,15, which has a key role on innate immune response16, is closely associated with the pathogenesis of COVID-19 severity. This evidence concerns the gene IFNA1 and COVID-19.