Functional aspects of the interaction between interleukin-8 and sulfated glycosaminoglycans

During the immune response, the cytokine interleukin 8 (IL-8, CXCL8) functions as a strong chemoattractant for polymorphonuclear leukocytes helping to direct these cells to infected/injured sites. This review focuses on the interaction of IL-8 with sulfated glycosaminoglycans expressed on cell surfaces and the extracellular matrix. This interaction contributes to the recruitment of polymorphonuclear cells from blood, penetration of these cells through the vessel wall, and their directed migration to inflammatory sites. Regulatory aspects of the interplay between IL-8 and heparan sulfate, the most abundant glycosaminoglycan, are highlighted. In this field, the large natural heterogeneity of glycosaminoglycans represents a great challenge that impedes the modeling of IL-8 functions. The interaction of IL-8 with newly developed artificial sulfated hyaluronan derivatives is also considered as these artificial substrates are an important tool for development of new materials in regenerative medicine.