HUMAN MONOCYTE CHEMOATTRACTANT PROTEIN-1 EXPRESSED IN A BACULOVIRUS SYSTEM

Human monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (hMCP-1) was produced using a baculovirus system. The hMCP-1 cDNA was inserted into the genomic DNA of Autographa california nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) using a t ransfer vector, pJVP10Z. Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells, which wer e infected with this recombinant virus, secreted recombinant hMCP-1 (r e-hMCP-1) at the level of 10-20 mug/ml of culture medium. This product was shown to chemoattract monocytes. Three distinct bands of 11, 11.5 and 12 kDa were revealed by immunoblotting analysis, and this heterog eneity was assigned to differences in carbohydrate processing. N-termi nal amino-acid sequence analysis of the purified product revealed iden tity with hMCP-1. Thus, in this system. re-hMCP-1 was produced in larg e quantities and modified in a manner similar to native hMCP-1.