Infection with highly pathogenic influenza such as H5N1 and H7N9 induces extensive infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils, upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IP-10, and cell death resulting in severe pulmonary inflammation [34–37]. This evidence concerns the gene CXCL8 and influenza.