CXCL8 and severe acute respiratory syndrome: In one previous study, marked elevation of IL-12 in plasma of SARS patients had been observed for at least 2 weeks after disease onset[27], Since IL-12 can induce the production of IFN-γ and other Th1 cytokines with suppression of the Th2 pathway [28], [29].the observed early elevation of IL-12 could be causative of the SARS-CoV-induced activation of Th1 cells and NK cells, release of chemokines such as IL-8, and results in pulmonary inflammation [30].