Role of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 in Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI) is accompanied by inflammatory responses that lead to the recruitment of leukocytes and subsequent myocardial damage, healing, and scar formation. Chemokines are a family of potent chemoattractant cytokines that regulate the leukocyte trafficking in basal levels and inflammatory processes; however, it has been recently recognized that chemokines are expressed by non-hematopoietic cells such as endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and cardiomyocytes, and their function extends far beyond leukocyte migration and activation. Many experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that chemokines play an important role in the pathophysiology of MI. In particular, the CC chemokine - monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) - is one of the most frequently investigated, and it is believed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of MI. This review will focus on the role of MCP-1 in the pathophysiology of MI and discuss its potential as a therapeutic target in this condition.