CXCL8 and infection: However, infection of alveolar epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages with SARS-CoV-2 results in these cells producing markedly elevated levels of cytokines or chemokines such as IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), resulting in a cytokine storm [21,22,23].