Inhibition of neutrophil-mediated acute inflammatory injury by an antibody against interleukin-8 (IL-8)

Chemokines are a family of cytokines regulating the migration and functions of leukocytes in a cell-type specific manner. A prototype of C-X-C chemokines, interleukin-8 (IL-8), chemoattracts and activates neutrophils in vitro, and IL-8 concentrations in body fluids are markedly increased in several neutrophil-mediated acute inflammation. Moreover, we previously reported that the administration of a neutralizing antibody to IL-8 prevented neutrophil-mediated tissue injury, as well as neutrophil infiltration, in several animal disease models. These observations implicate IL-8 as a major mediator of neutrophil-mediated tissue injury. Furthermore, we recently showed that an anti-IL-8 antibody effectively prevented two models that are very relevant to clinical situations; endotoxemia-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like lung injury and cerebral reperfusion injury. These results raise the possibility that IL-8 is a novel target for therapeutic intervention in neutrophil-mediated acute inflammation.