Final answer:
The function of IL-8 is to attract neutrophils to the site of infection, where they perform phagocytosis to destroy pathogens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of IL-8 is to attract neutrophils to the site of infection. IL-8 is a chemokine produced by various cells, and it plays a key role in the inflammatory response by creating a chemical gradient that neutrophils can follow to reach areas where their intervention is required. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that is one of the body's first lines of defense against infection. They move from blood vessels into the tissues where they are needed by following this chemical signal.
Once at the site of infection, neutrophils perform their function of phagocytosis, engulfing and destroying pathogens to prevent the spread of infection. This process is facilitated by cytokines that not only promote inflammation but also activate other immune cells such as macrophages to clear up the debris left by neutrophils after they phagocytose pathogens and die.