Interleukin 8 was originally discovered and purified independently by a number of laboratories as a neutrophil chemotactic and activating factor. It was also referred to as neutrophil chemotactic factor (NCF), neutrophil activating protein (NAP), monocyte-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor (MDNCF), T-lymphocyte chemotactic factor (TCF), granulocyte chemotactic protein (GCP) and leukocyte adhesion inhibitor (LAI). Many cell types, including monocyte/macrophages, T cells, neutrophils, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, hepatocytes, chondrocytes, and various tumor cell lines, can produce IL-8 in response to a wide variety of
pro‑inflammatory stimuli such as exposure to IL-1, TNF, LPS, and viruses. IL-8 is a member of the alpha (C-X-C) subfamily of chemokines, which also includes platelet factor 4, GRO, IP-10, etc.
IL-8 is a potent chemoattractant for neutrophils. In addition, IL-8 also has a wide range of other pro-inflammatory effects. IL-8 causes degranulation of neutrophil specific granules and azurophilic granules. IL-8 induces expression of the cell adhesion molecules CD11/CD18 and enhances the adherence of neutrophils to endothelial cells and sub-endothelial matrix proteins. Besides neutrophils, IL-8 is also chemotactic for basophils, T cells and eosinophils. IL-8 has been reported to be a co-mitogen for keratinocytes and was also shown to be an autocrine growth factor for melanoma cells. IL-8 has also been reported to be angiogenic both in vivo and in vitro.
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