CXCL8 and infection: To confirm this, human endothelial cells (HUVEC) were exposed to N. meningitidis in vitro and they displayed the same cytokine profile with expression of only IL-6 (1200 pg/ml 24 h post infection) and IL-8 (1200 pg/ml, 24 h post infection) strengthening the implication of the endothelium as a key mediator of this response in vivo.