MCP-1 and IL-8 trigger firm adhesion of monocytes to vascular endothelium under flow conditions

Monocytes contribute to the development of atherosclerotic lesions in mouse models1,3. The chemoattractant proteins (chemokines), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), are found in human atheroma4,5, and mice lacking receptors for these chemokines are less susceptible to atherosclerosis and have fewer monocytes in vascular lesions6,7. Although MCP-1 has a powerful effect on monocytes, IL-8 is thought to act predominantly on neutrophils and it is unclear howit could recruit monocytes6,8. Here we investigate the ability of chemokines to control the interaction of monocytes under flow conditions with vascular endothelium that has been transduced to express specific leukocyte-adherence receptors. We find that MCP-1 and IL-8 can each rapidly cause rolling monocytes to adhere firmly onto monolayers expressing E-selectin, whereas related chemokines do not. These effects do not correlate with either the induction of a calcium transient or chemotaxis. We conclude that chemokines are important modulators of monocyte–endothelial interactions under flow conditions. Moreover, our finding that IL-8 is a powerful trigger for firm adhesion of monocytes to vascular endothelium reveals an unexpected role for this chemokine in monocyte recruitment.