CXCL8 and inflammatory bowel disease: In addition, high expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and other inflammatory factors plays an important role in the occurrence and development of inflammatory bowel disease.[42] These factors affect intestinal motility through nerve and endocrine pathways to act on the nerve fibers of the intestinal mucosal and smooth muscle layers, which results in symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in stool characteristics.