MCP-1, Mouse, mAb ECE.2

The monoclonal antibody ECE.2 recognizes mouse monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1). The murine JE gene encodes the monocyte-specific cytokine monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP- 1). MCP-1 is a CC chemokine of 76 amino acids (~11 kDa) and is chemotactic for monocytes and basophils but not neutrophils and eosinophils. MCP-1 is expressed by smooth muscle cells (SMC), macrophages, endothelial cells, keratinocytes and fibroblasts in response to inflammatory stimuli such as interleukin 1β and tumor necrosis factor α. MCP-1 has been implicated in a variety of inflammatory processes, including inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, nephritis, and parasitic and viral infections. MCP-1 antigen is not detected in the endothelium or SMC of normal arteries. MCP-1 has also been shown to exhibit biological activities other than chemotaxis. It can induce the proliferation and activation of killer cells known as CHAK (CC-Chemokine-activated killer) MCP-1 signals via the CCR2 receptor, and is critical for aneurysm formation because of its stability to recruit leukocytes. These leukocytes produce extracellular matrix-degrading MMPs, thereby inductin aortic remodelling and dilatation. Interleukin-6 is also involved in this amplification loop accelerating vascular inflammation. MCP-/- mice display significantly delayed wound re-epithelialization, and also delayed wound angiogenesis.