The chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), also known as monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and small inducible cytokine A2 (SCYA2)), is a small cytokine that belongs to the CC chemokine family responsible for monocyte attraction. Its cognate receptor, CCR2, play a critical role in regulating nociceptive processes during neuropathic pain. Both CCL2 and CCR2 are implicated in induction of autoimmunity. CCL2 recruits monocytes, memory T cells, and dendritic cells to the sites of inflammation produced by either tissue injury or infection. Recently research also showed that CCL2 might be useful as a biomarker of fibrosis as well as a target for therapeutic intervention.
