CXCL8 and infection: Whole lung tissue was collected 24 h after infection and processed for RT-qPCR to evaluate for relative gene expression of proinflammatory genes IRAK1, TRAF6, NF-κB, IL-6, MIP-2 (murine IL-8 analog), IL-1β, and TNFα as these cytokines outline the pathway along which miR146a functions [22,23].