These MCP-1flox mice possess loxP sites flanking exons 1-2 of the chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (Ccl2) gene. MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) is a chemotactic factor that recruits monocytes and basophils to sites of inflammation or injury. This chemokine plays a role in the development of inflammatory responses as well as some diseases including atherosclerosis, psoriasis, pulmonary fibrosis, nephritis, multiple sclerosis and cancer. Mice that are homozygous for this allele are viable and fertile. These mice produce MCP-1 whose level is compatible to that in WT mice in response to intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate or zymosan. When these mutant mice are bred to mice that express Cre recombinase, resulting offspring will have exons 1-2 deleted in cre-expressing tissues.
For example, when crossed to B6.FVB-Tg(EIIa-cre)C5379Lmgd/J mice (Stock No. 003724) this mutant strain does not produce MCP-1 in response to peritonitis induction, but produces higher levels of MPC-3 and MCP-5. The number of macrophages recruited to the site of infection is reduced.
