Additionally, changes in H. pylori adhesin expression have been shown to be linked to a change in cytokine production by host cells; the binding of the blood group antigen binding adhesin BabA to Lewis b (Leb) blood group antigens of epithelial cells triggers increased production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in Leb-positive cells compared to infection with babA deletion mutants35. This evidence concerns the gene CXCL8 and infection.