Background: | Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemokine produced by macrophages and other cell types such as epithelial cells. It is also synthesized by endothelial cells, which store IL-8 in their storage vesicles, the Weibel-Palade bodies. When first encountering an antigen, the primary cells to encounter it are the macrophages who phagocytosethe particle. Upon processing, they release chemokinesto signal other immune cells to come in to the site of inflammation. IL-8 is one such chemokine. It serves as a chemical signal that attracts neutrophilsat the site of inflammation, and therefore is also known as Neutrophil Chemotactic Factor. |
Synonyms: | IL-8, CXCL8, Monocyte-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor, MDNCF, T-cell chemotactic factor, Neutrophil-activating protein 1, NAP-1, Protein 3-10C, Granulocyte chemotactic protein 1, GCP-1, Monocyte-derived neutrophil-activating peptide, MONAP, Emoctakin, K60, NAF, LECT, LUCT, 3-10C, LYNAP, SCYB8, TSG-1, AMCF-I, b-ENAP. |