[Function, molecular structure and gene expression of IL-8]

Abstract

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a potent chemotactic factor for neutrophils and T lymphocytes. Various reagents such as lectins, mitogens, IL-1, TNF, induce IL-8 production in a wide range of cells and tissues. The IL-8 gene is known to be activated by AP-1, NF-kB like factor and C/EBP like factor, but the relative importance of these transcriptional factors varies from cell to cell. Two types of human IL-8 receptor cDNA have recently been cloned. Both are G-protein coupled receptors and the amino acid sequences are highly homologous. Other members of the IL-8 family, such as GRO/MGSA and MIP2, bind to IL-8 receptors, and the receptors of other chemoattractants such as fMLP and C5a, show high homology to the IL-8 receptors.