Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 in luteolysis

Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) is a member of the chemokine fam ily of cytokines which are involved in leukocyte physiology and trafficking . Interest in the role of inflammatory cells and their cytokine products in luteolysis has been increasing and there is mounting evidence demonstratin g that MCP-1 is involved in luteolysis. Cell sources of MCP-1, such as endo thelial cells, are abundant in late stage luteal tissue. Increased amounts of mRNA encoding MCP-1 are found after luteolysis in sheep, pigs, cows, rat s and women and its upregulation is associated with an increase in macropha ges within the corpus luteum, indicating that MCP-1 may act as an inflammat ory mediator during luteal regression. Luteolytic substances (prolactin in rats and prostaglandin F-2 alpha in ruminants) appear to be involved in inc reased expression of MCP-1 within the corpus luteum, although it is unclear whether this is a direct or indirect effect. Cytokines produced within the corpus luteum around luteolysis may also be involved in regulating MCP-1 e xpression. The field of chemokine biology is expanding rapidly and MCP-1, a s well as other chemokines yet to be investigated, may prove to he an impor tant link between the hormonal and cellular events within the corpus luteum around the time of luteolysis.