Early in infection, the infected cells are activated and start to release some early mediators of inflammation such as TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IFN-γ and chemo-attractant molecules (e.g. CXCL5, CXCL8), some of which also characterize the early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection (Figure 2). This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and infection.