Interleukin-8 favors pro-inflammatory activity of human monocytes/macrophages.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8, CXCL8) belongs to major chemokines to stimulate migration of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages (Mc/Mphs) into the inflammation sites. We studied the direct effects of IL-8 on the functionality of human Mc/Mphs in vitro. CD14-positive cells were isolated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by positive magnetic separation and were further cultured with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1.