IL8 is a member of the CXC chemokine family. This family of small basic heparan-binding proteins are proinflammatory and primarily mediate the activation and migration of neutrophils into tissue from peripheral blood. This chemokine is one of the major mediators of the inflammatory response and is secreted by several cell types in response to an inflammatory stimulus. It functions as a chemoattractant, and is also a potent angiogenic factor. IL8 attracts neutrophils, basophils, and T-cells, but not monocytes. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by severe lung inflammation. The inflammatory process is believed to be caused by massive overproduction of the proinflammatory protein IL8, and the high levels of IL8 in the CF lung are therefore believed to be the central mechanism behind CF lung pathophysiology.Synonyms: CXCL8, Emoctakin, GCP1, Granulocyte chemotactic protein 1, MDNCF, MONAP, Monocyte-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor, Monocyte-derived neutrophil-activating peptide, NAP1, Neutrophil-activating protein 1, Protein 3-10C, T-cell chemotactic factor