Molecular Cell
Volume 2, Issue 2, August 1998, Pages 275-281
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Short Articles
Absence of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Reduces Atherosclerosis in Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor–Deficient Mice

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Abstract

Recruitment of blood monocytes into the arterial subendothelium is one of the earliest steps in atherogenesis. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a CC chemokine, is one likely signal involved in this process. To test MCP-1’s role in atherogenesis, low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor–deficient mice were made genetically deficient for MCP-1 and fed a high cholesterol diet. Despite having the same amount of total and fractionated serum cholesterol as LDL receptor–deficient mice with wild-type MCP-1 alleles, LDL receptor/MCP-1-deficient mice had 83% less lipid deposition throughout their aortas. Consistent with MCP-1’s monocyte chemoattractant properties, compound-deficient mice also had fewer macrophages in their aortic walls. Thus, MCP-1 plays a unique and crucial role in the initiation of atherosclerosis and may provide a new therapeutic target in this disorder.

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