CXCL8 and infection: After infection with T. rubrum arthroconidia, hyphae invaded the stratum corneum and located in the whole intercellular space altering the epidermal barrier integrity and activating keratinocyte response with mRNA expression and release of CXCL8, TNF-stimulated gene 6 protein (TSG-6), AMP (human β-defensin-2 and -3 and S100A7) and, in a lesser extent, IL-1α, IL-1β, TNF, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).