CXCL8 and infection: It is not only the intestinal immune cells that mediate inflammatory responses, but the IECs are also actively involved in intestinal mucosal immunity by producing IL-8 and antimicrobial peptides.2-4 Therefore, IECs can be key players in the severity of diarrheal disease.5Campylobacter jejuni is a common cause of intestinal illness; however, it is not known what specific host factors respond to the infection, nor is it known how quickly these host responses occur.