CXCL8 and infection: Infection-triggered cellular responses, including the activation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and NF-κB pathways, the production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8/CXCL8), and the expression of distinct gene profiles, have been examined in vitro by using primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) [12], human epithelial/EC-like ECV304 cell line [13], human monocytes or MΦs [14].