Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MCP-1, CCL2, MCAF, TDCF) is a small cytokine that belongs to the CC chemokine family. MCP-1 is a monomeric polypeptide, with a molecular weight of approximately 13 kDa. MCP-1 is anchored in the plasma membrane of endothelial cells by glycosaminoglycan side chains of proteoglycans. MCP-1 is primarily secreted by monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. MCP-1 recruits monocytes, memory T cells, and dendritic cells to the sites of inflammation produced by either tissue injury or infection.
Monitoring of MCP-1 levels in serum provides more detailed insights in several pathological situations such as sepsis, Crohn’s disease, lupus nephritis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute pancreatitis, atherosclerosis, gastric carcinoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, malignant glioma, and ovarian, pancreatic, bladder, and breast cancers.