Among the cytokines secreted by virus-infected airway epithelial cells, IL-6 plays a prominent role in the early recruitment and differentiation of monocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes which express the corresponding IL-6 receptor (IL-6R). Though IL-6 is chiefly secreted by macrophages (activated AMs and inflammatory macrophages) in the lungs, secretion of IL-6 by ATII is also significant. In vitro studies on SARS-CoV have shown the release of IL-6 by ATII in response to RIG-I and TLR signaling via activation of NF κB pathway (Ndlovu et al., 2009; Tanaka et al., 2012). Additionally, proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β secreted by macrophages act on ATII cells to cause the release of IL-6 (Crestani et al., 1994; Schwingshackl et al., 2013).