Stimulus specific induction of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) gene expression.

The recruitment of monocytes from the peripheral vasculature to an area of chronic inflammation is a complex phenomenon. This complicated process is likely mediated to a large extent by chemotactic cytokines that are expressed via a cytokine cascade. A number of chronic diseases that are difficult to manage are characterized by a significant infiltrate of monocytes, including sarcoidosis, Wegener's granulomatosis, and tuberculosis. New scientific insight into the mechanisms that lead to early activation events, such as monocyte elicitation, may aid in both better understanding these diverse processes and designing more effective therapies.