Our work also identifies two potential therapeutic targets, VEGF and CCL20, which are synergistically upregulated by hypoxia during HCoV-OC43 infection, the targeting of which, for example, by modulating hypoxia signaling pathways such as the HIF-1 pathway which regulates both these proteins, may be of utility in controlling hyperinflammation and inhibiting cytokine storm in patients with severe COVID-19. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is COVID-19.