IL-8 (Interleukin-8)

Biology and Diseases

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a CXC chemokine synthesized by many cell types, including macrophages, epithelial cells and endothelial cells in response to a pathogen or inflammatory stimulus. IL-8 functions as a chemotactic factor that attracts neutrophils, basophils, and T-cells. IL-8 is one of the major mediators of the inflammatory response and of innate immunity. Its function is to recruit neutrophils to phagocytose the foreign antigen. IL-8 is also a potent angiogenic factor that induces neutrophils to leave the bloodstream and enter into the surrounding tissue. IL-8 has been shown to have roles in the pathological angiogenesis that is associated with solid tumors, diabetic retinopathy, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Therapies

Interleukin-8 is often associated with inflammation, and can be downstream targeted through the use of anti-inflammatories like TNF-alpha inhibitors. Due to a role in angiogenesis, IL-8 can also be a potential target for the pathological angiogenesis that is associated with solid tumors, diabetic retinopathy, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Unmet Need

The role of IL-8 in angiogenesis also provides an area of need since multiple pathways of angiogenesis exist, and the results of drugs designed to inhibit angiogenesis need to be evaluated for efficacy with multiple markers for these distinct endpoints. In addition, IL-8 has the potential to be an antiangiogenesis therapeutic target. In order for IL-8 measurements to be useful, there is a need for assays with enough sensitivity to detect small changes in analyte concentration during disease progression or therapeutic intervention. Further, to understand disease it will be essential to establish baseline IL-8 levels in healthy subjects.

Singulex Answer

Singulex’s IL-8 assay allows for the detection of very low levels of IL-8 and measurement of small changes in concentration that can provide insights into therapeutic efficacy. The IL-8 assay has an LLoQ of 0.5 pg/mL and a reading range of 0.36-2000 pg/mL, enabling accurate quantification of IL-8 in human plasma.

This assay will allow investigators to:

1. Measure the efficacy and dosing of therapeutics designed to interfere with the inflammatory response.

2. Measure the efficacy and dosing of therapeutics designed to interfere with angiogenesis, as well as define the pathway of effect.

3. Design more robust clinical and preclinical studies in which velocity of IL-8 concentration is used as a therapeutic endpoint.

4. Understand how IL-8 levels change in patients as they transition from healthy to diseased states.

Application Note

Click to download