Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) accelerates the organization and resolution of venous thrombi

Purpose: Organization, recanalization, and contraction are common to wound healing and thrombus resolution. Monocytes are essential to wound healing a nd are also found in venous thrombi. We measured endogenous levels of the m onocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in naturally resolving venous thrombi and determined the effect of injecting MCP-1 into newly formed thrombus. Methods: Endogenous MCP-1 levels were estimated in rat blood, thrombi, and the adjacent vessel wall after thrombus formation, in cohorts of eight anim als at 1, 7, and 14 days. In another group (n = 10), 1 mu g of MCP-1 was in jected into newly formed thrombi. Carrier was injected into the thrombi of control animals (n = 10). Thrombi and adjacent vein wails were obtained for histology at 7 days. Thrombi were given an arbitrary organization score ba sed on erythrocyte and extracellular matrix content, which was assessed by means of computerized and observer analysis. Specimen weight, thrombus area , and cellular and monocyte content were measured. Results: Endogenous MCP-1 increased between days 1 and 7 in the thrombus (1 -day median, 1.1 ng/g wet wt; 1-day range, 0.8 to 1.4 ng/g wet wt; 7-day me dian, 5.4 ng/g wet wt; 7-day range, 1.5 to 7.4 ng/g wet wt; P <.0001) and v ein wall (1-day median, 1.5 ng/g wet wt; 1-day range, 0.8 to 4.3 ng/g wet w t; 7-day median, 3.3 ng/g wet wt; 7-day range, 2.7 to 8.3 ng/g wet wt; P <. 05). At 14 days, thrombus was incorporated in the vein wall, and total MCP- 1 levels remained high (median, 3.9 ng/g wet wt; range, 1.1 to 7.4 ng/g wet wt). Less MCP-1 was found in the thrombus than the adjacent vessel wall at day 1 (P <.05), but there was no difference at day 7. MCP-1 could not be d etected in the blood. MCP-1 injection into thrombus increased the computer (P =.016) and observer (P =.004) organization scores, reduced the thrombus area (from median, 3.4 mm(2), and range, 1.5 to 5.7 mm(2), to median, 0.2 m m(2), and range, 0.02 to 2.6 mm(2); P =.048), and increased the surrounding vessel wall monocyte content (P =.008). Specimen weights of treated animal s were lower than those of control animals (P <.02). Conclusion: Venous thrombus MCP-1 levels increase during natural resolution . MCP-1 treatment increased the organization and resolution of thrombi. MCP -1 may therefore be of therapeutic use.