To determine if CXCL14 activates NF-κB by binding to SDC1, HCE-2 cells with SDC1 knockdown were created via lentiviral infection, as seen in Fig. 5C, D. Following treatment with recombinant CXCL14 (20 ng/mL), western blot analyses revealed that SDC1 suppression reduced CXCL14’s effect on both NF-κB and proliferation marker Ki67, as seen in Fig. 5E–H. The gene discussed is CXCL14; the disease is infection.