Research indicates that severe pneumonia is predominantly triggered by an exaggerated immune response of the body toward the influenza virus, leading to excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukins (ILs), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferons (IFNs), and chemokines, collectively referred to as a “cytokine storm” (Gao et al., 2013). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is pneumonia.