MECs can synthesize and secrete inflammatory chemokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) [43], which are crucial for the occurrence of mastitis. Here, CXCL8 is linked to mastitis.