CGAS and endothelial dysfunction: Thus, STING over-expression-induced endothelial dysfunction may be an important cause of thrombotic coagulopathy in patients with COVID-19, the possible explanation is that the metabolic stress of COVID-19 infection leads to the release of oxidized mtDNA, which promotes the activation of cGAS-STING-IFN cascade, but the precise mechanisms still need to be further clarified (156).