In this study, although L. plantarum Lac16 elevated the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and IL-8, preincubation with L. plantarum Lac16 significantly inhibited C. perfringens-associated inflammatory responses, which was consistent with our previous results that L. plantarum Lac16 alleviated C. perfringens infection-associated inflammatory responses in the ileum mucosa of broilers [30]. This evidence concerns the gene CXCL8 and infection due to clostridium perfringens.