Interleukin 8

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Solution structure of human IL-8
interleukin 8
Identifiers
Symbol	IL8
HUGO	6025
Entrez	3576
OMIM	146930
RefSeq	NM_000584
UniProt	P10145
PDB	1IL8
Other data
Locus	Chr. 4 q13-q21

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemokine produced by macrophages and other cell types such as epithelial cells. When first encountering an antigen, the primary cells to encounter it are the macrophages who phagocytose the particle. Upon processing, they release chemokines to 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 neutrophils at the site of inflammation, and therefore is also known as Neutrophil Chemotactic Factor.

If a pregnant mother has high levels of interleukin-8, she has a higher risk of inducing schizophrenia in her offspring.^[1] High levels of Interleukin 8 have been shown to reduce the chance of good treatment responses to antipsychotic medication in schizophrenia.^[2] Interleukin-8 is often associated with inflammation.

Note: IL-8 was renamed CXCL8 by the Chemokine Nomenclature Subcommittee of the Nomenclature Committee of the International Union of Immunological Societies, although its approved gene symbol remains IL8.

[edit] References