TNF and COVID-19: Cytokine storm. Well-established concept with over 4,000 hits in PubMed on COVID-19. Activation of innate immunity leads to overproduction of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, 6, TNF etc) that cause hyperinflammation and tissue damage. This concept is at the basis of the use of anti-inflammatory agents (anti-IL-6, dexamethasone) (23, 24).