Recombinant human MCP-1/JE induces chemotaxis, calcium flux, and the respiratory burst in human monocytes.

The JE gene was first described as a platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-inducible gene in mouse 3T3 cells. The human homologue of JE encodes a protein whose predicted amino acid sequence is identical to that of the monocyte chemoattractant MCP-1 (also called MCAF and SMC-CF), which belongs to a recently identified family of small secretory proteins with cytokine properties. We purified recombinant human MCP-1/JE (hMCP-1/JE) produced in COS cells and demonstrated that it is chemotactic for human monocytes with a specific activity similar to natural MCP-1. In addition, pure recombinant hMCP-1/JE stimulates monocytes, inducing an increase in cytosolic free calcium and the respiratory burst, but is completely inactive on human neutrophils. These results help to define functionally a well-known growth factor-inducible gene and a member of a new family of cytokines.