Previous studies have shown that the severity of COVID-19 is linked to the levels of interleukin(IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and alterations in the expression of these inflammatory cytokines may occur in the early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection (12, 35, 36). The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is COVID-19.