Interleukin-8, or IL-8, the prototypic member of the C-X-C, or a, family of chemokines, is a chemoattractant cytokine involved in the chemotaxis and activation of neutrophils. IL-8 is produced by a number of cell types including monocytes, T cells, neutrophils, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and others. In addition to its effects on neutrophils, IL-8 promotes angiogenesis, inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis, and promotes the proliferation of melanoma cells in an autocrine fashion. IL-8 monomers and dimers exhibit a dynamic equilibrium both free in solution and in cell surface-bound forms and thus regulate chemotaxis and receptor signaling. Research has shown that IL-8 dimerization functions as a negative regulator for IL-8 receptor function.
