Specifically, production of key proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1α and IL-1β), chemokines (e.g., CCL20 and CXCL8), and VEGFA was markedly downregulated during co-infection with either HCMV variant, reflecting the known synergistic interference between the two pathogens (16). This evidence concerns the gene CCL20 and coinfection.