Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1 Alpha (MIP-1α), also known as CCL3, is a chemokine that plays a crucial role in the immune response. It is produced by macrophages and other cell types and is involved in the recruitment and activation of various immune cells. This article delves into the background, biological functions, and clinical significance of MIP-1α/CCL3.
MIP-1α was first discovered by Stephen D. Wolpe in 1988 . It belongs to the CC subfamily of chemokines, which are characterized by two adjacent cysteine residues near their amino terminus. The official name for MIP-1α is CCL3, and it is also known by several other names, including G0/G1 switch regulatory protein 19-1, PAT 464.1, and small-inducible cytokine A3 .
MIP-1α/CCL3 is a multifunctional peptide that performs various biological functions:
MIP-1α/CCL3 is associated with various inflammatory diseases and conditions that exhibit bone resorption, such as:
Recombinant human MIP-1α/CCL3 is a human full-length protein expressed in Escherichia coli with high purity and low endotoxin levels . It is used in various research applications, including SDS-PAGE, functional assays, and HPLC . The recombinant protein retains its biological activity and is used to study the chemotactic and inflammatory properties of MIP-1α/CCL3 .