Seven cytokines showed a significant positive correlation with disease severity (|Rho| > 0.2, partial Spearman correlation), including proinflammatory T helper 1 (TH1)-related cytokines (IP-10, MIP-1a) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-associated cytokines [20] (IL-6, IL-8, IL-1ra, MCP-1) (Fig. 4A). This evidence concerns the gene CXCL8 and acute respiratory distress syndrome.