Early response pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β, are overproduced in a typical hospitalized COVID-19 patient and may be responsible for the acute respiratory distress syndrome, lung injury, and multiple-organ damage seen in some COVID-19 patients at severe stages of the disease (Aziz et al., 2020; Pilla Reddy et al., 2021; Rendeiro et al., 2021; Frisoni et al., 2022). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is acute respiratory distress syndrome.