the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection still represents a major public health concern. Severe COVID-19 is characterized by systemic hyper-inflammation, cytokine storm and rapid progression to respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). [1] Major inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)−6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-1, have been shown to be predictors of disease severity and mortality, therefore, it was relatively early proposed that they should represent both prognostic biomarkers, but also treatment targets in COVID-19.
