IL-8

IL-8 is a member of the CXC chemokine family and is a major mediator of inflammatory response. IL-8 is induced by activators such as LPS, IL-1, and TNF to be produced/secrete from a variety of cell types that include monocytes, lymphocytes, granulocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial, and epithelial cells. IL-8 binds primarily to two GPCRs, CXCR1 and CXCR2, on neutrophils, monocytes, endothelial cells, astrocytes, and microglia. IL-8 functions as a strong chemoattractant and an angiogenic factor. Besides its chemotactic influence, IL-8 also triggers the secretion of superoxide anions and lysosomal enzymes in neutrophils. In basophils, IL-8 stimulates the histamine liberation. IL-8 selectively stimulates the ability of neutrophils and T-lymphocytes to invade injured or inflamed tissue. Other findings suggest that endothelial-derived IL-8 may function to attenuate inflammatory events at the interface between vessel wall and blood. IL-8 is also associated with a number diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, asthma, bladder cancer, blood incompatibility, contact dermatitis, graft rejection, inflammatory bowel disease, myocardial infarction, sepsis, and others.