IL1B and COVID-19: However, the release of myeloperoxidase (MPO), used as a marker of degranulation and/or NETosis, in response to nigericin was similar between COVID-19 PMNs and HC PMNs (Fig 5C), and therefore the observed diminished IL-1β release by COVID-19 PMNs is not due to general cellular inertia but may be specific to the ex vivo induced inflammasome pathway.