Studies have found that extraordinarily high proinflammatory cytokine levels in SARS cytokine release syndrome, such as TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, IL-12, IL-17, IFN-γ, IP10, and MCP1, are the probable causes and clinical outcomes of this phenomenon in severe COVID-19 cases and contribute to COVID-19 pathogenesis and related complications, including pulmonary inflammation and extensive lung damage4,5. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is COVID-19.