Background: We have examined the role of MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; also known as monocyte chemotactic and activating factor or the murine JE gene product) in the pathogenesis of glucan-induced granulomatous vasculitis in the rat. While in vitro studies indicate that MCP-1 possesses monocyte chemotactic and activating activities, little is known about its biologic role in pathologic processes. Glucan-induced pulmonary granulomatous vasculitis is an ideal model in which to study the role of MCP-1, because the granulomas develop rapidly and synchronously and are monocyte/macrophage-rich.
Experimental design: The purpose of this study was to define the topographic distribution and temporal pattern of MCP-1 expression in the lungs of rats with evolving glucan-induced granulomatous vasculitis and to determine the effect of neutralization of MCP-1 activity on granuloma formation. Glucan-induced pulmonary granulomatous vasculitis was induced in rats by the intravenous infusion of yeast cell wall glucan. At the indicated time points after glucan infusion, rats were sacrificed and the lungs processed for Northern, immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization analyses of MCP-1 production. Morphometric analysis was used to quantify the effect of neutralization of MCP-1 activity on granuloma formation.
Results: Granuloma formation was accompanied by a biphasic increase in steady-state whole lung MCP-1 mRNA levels that peaked at 1 and 6 to 24 hours. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that components of the bronchial and vascular walls are responsible for the early rise (1 hour) in MCP-1 mRNA and protein expression, whereas granuloma-associated alveolar macrophages are the predominant source of MCP-1 later (6 to 24 hours) in the evolution of these lesions. Intravenous infusion and/or intratracheal instillation of neutralizing concentrations of anti-rat MCP-1 antibody raised against recombinant rat MCP-1 resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number and size of glucan-induced granulomas as well as in the numbers of mononuclear phagocytes retrieved in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
Conclusions: These studies demonstrate that glucan-induced granulomatous vasculitis is accompanied by increased local expression of MCP-1 mRNA and protein, that there is a coordinated production of MCP-1 by different cell types within the lung during evolving glucan-induced pulmonary vasculitis, and that MCP-1 plays a requisite role in pulmonary granuloma formation.