Pulmonary vascular remodeling in COVID-19 is characterized by an angiogenesis of the intussusceptive type, which is induced by increased expression of Cxcl12 (stromal-derived factor-1) and Cxcr4. Another hallmark of this peculiar SARS-CoV-2-induced vascular remodeling is the expression of Ccl12, Gdf15, Cd163, Col3a1, which underline the unique vascular etiology of COVID-19 distinguishing it from other forms of interstitial lung disease84–86. Here, GDF15 is linked to COVID-19.