TGFB1 and COVID-19: Average serum levels of cytokines such as IL-2, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ and TGF-β were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects [168,169], and transcriptional analysis showed that SARS-CoV-2 spike modulates the expression of genes involved in the regulation of ECM and TGF-β signaling pathways [170].