Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-I is rapidly expressed by sympathetic ganglion neurons following axonal injury

ED1-immunoreactive macrophages, absent from the superior cervical ganglia ( SCG) of normal rats, appear in these ganglia within 48 h after postganglion ic axotomy. Further, resident macrophages show changes after axotomy. Since chemokines function as chemoattractants and activators of leukocytes, the effects of axotomy on chemokine expression in the SCG were examined. Within 6 h after nerve transection, increases were seen in mRNA levels for monocy te chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. MCP-1 mRNA was concentrated in a popula tion of neurons, while MCP-1 protein was localized to endothelial cells. Th is axotomy-induced neuronal MCP-1 expression may trigger the infiltration a nd/or activation of macrophages in SCC after injury. NeuroReport 12:601-606 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.