Interleukin-8 (CXCL8) Human Active Protein

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the CXC chemokine family and is a major mediator of the inflammatory response. The encoded protein is secreted primarily by neutrophils, where it serves as a chemotactic factor by guiding the neutrophils to the site of infection. This chemokine is also a potent angiogenic factor. This gene is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of bronchiolitis, a common respiratory tract disease caused by viral infection. This gene and other members of the CXC chemokine gene family form a gene cluster in a region of chromosome 4q. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2017]

IL8: IL-8 is a chemotactic factor that attracts neutrophils, basophils, and T-cells, but not monocytes. It is also involved in neutrophil activation. It is released from several cell types in response to an inflammatory stimulus. IL-8(6-77) has a 5-10-fold higher activity on neutrophil activation, IL-8(5-77) has increased activity on neutrophil activation and IL-8(7-77) has a higher affinity to receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 as compared to IL-8(1-77), respectively. Belongs to the intercrine alpha (chemokine CxC) family. 2 isoforms of the human protein are produced by alternative splicing.

Protein type: Cytokine; Motility/polarity/chemotaxis; Secreted; Secreted, signal peptide

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 4q13.3

Cellular Component: extracellular region; extracellular space

Molecular Function: chemokine activity; interleukin-8 receptor binding; protein binding

Biological Process: angiogenesis; calcium-mediated signaling; cell cycle arrest; cell motility; chemotaxis; embryonic gut development; G-protein coupled receptor protein signaling pathway; immune response; induction of positive chemotaxis; inflammatory response; negative regulation of cell proliferation; negative regulation of G-protein coupled receptor protein signaling pathway; neutrophil activation; neutrophil chemotaxis; positive regulation of angiogenesis; receptor internalization; regulation of cell adhesion; regulation of retroviral genome replication; response to molecule of bacterial origin; signal transduction