Similarly, mRNA levels of NF-κB target genes, including IL1β and IL10, were significantly increased independently of the severity of COVID-19, and CXCL1 and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) mRNA expression was significantly higher in PBMCs from patients with severe and critical COVID-19 (Fig. 6D). Here, NFKB1 is linked to COVID-19.