CXCL8 and infection: Since interleukin-8 (IL-8) or CXC-chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) is produced by epithelial cells in response to infection or inflammatory stimulation [25], we also investigated IL-8 expression in these patients in order to determine if IL-8 is upregulated in papillomas and whether defensin expression is associated with IL-8 expression.