The role of MIP-1 alpha in inflammation and hematopoiesis.
Macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha) is a member of the C-C subfamily of chemokines, a large superfamily of low-molecular weight, inducible proteins that exhibit a variety of proinflammatory activities in vitro including leukocyte chemotaxis. MIP-1 alpha is a particularly interesting chemokine, because in addition to its proinflammatory activities, it inhibits the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells in vitro and in vivo. Here, the biologic properties of MIP-1 alpha are reviewed in light of recent data on mice homozygous for a disruption of the MIP-1 alpha gene. The MIP-1 alpha null mice have no overt abnormalities of peripheral blood or bone marrow cells, indicating that MIP-1 alpha is not necessary for normal hematopoiesis. However, the MIP-1 alpha null mice have a mice have a reduced inflammatory reduced inflammatory response to influenza virus and are resistant to coxsackievirus-induced myocarditis. These data demonstrate that MIP-1 alpha is required for a normal inflammatory response to these viruses. Agent that inhibit the action of MIP-1 alpha may therefore prove useful for controlling inflammation in these and other settings.
Cook
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DN
Department of Pathology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7525, USA.
D000818:Animals; D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins; D051379:Mice; D015846:Monokines / Q000502:physiology*
D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins; D015846:Monokines