Mcp-1 induces proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells

During vascular lesion formation a dynamic interplay between leukocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) leads to the expression of numerous cytokines that influence VSMC migration and proliferation. Recent studies have indicated that MCP-1, a potent monocyte chemotactic cytokine is expressed during vascular lesion formation. In order to determine whether MCP-1 is also mitogenic and chemotactic for vascular smooth muscle cells, we isolated porcine VSMCs from carotid arteries and investigated the effects of MCP-1 on migration and proliferation. MCP-1 induced concentrâton-dependent (10-100 ng/ml) migration of porcine .smooth muscle cells. The optimal concentration was found to be 50ng/ml with a chemotactic index (CI= migration to stimuli/ migration to medium) of 2.5-3 (n=4). In the presence of indomethacin (5 uM /L), MCP-1 stimulated cell proliferation. RT-PCR on isolated RNA showed that the porcine duffy antigen receptor and MCP-1 receptor was expressed by porcine VSMCs. Our results suggest that MCP-1 may be an important cytokine in regulating VSMC proliferation and migration during vascular disease pathogenisis (e.g. chronic atherosclerosis and arterial intimai thickening).