CXCL8 and shigellosis: In the rabbit ileum, most IL-8 is produced by intestinal epithelial cells [27]; however, in human rectal biopsies of shigellosis patients, IL-8 is confined mainly to the crypt lumen while in healthy biopsies, IL-8 immunostaining gives strong labeling in the crypts [23], suggesting a localized storage depot at this location.