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CGEN-54
MCP1, also named CCL2, belongs to the CC protein family and is induced in response to various inflammatory stimuli. Binding of this protein to its cognate receptor, CCR2, leads to the recruitment of specialized immune cells to the site of inflammation, unfortunately often leading to tissue destruction associated with chronic inflammatory diseases. CGEN-54 is a novel splice variant of MCP1 that has been shown to inhibit MCP1 related activity. The inhibition of the MCP1-CCR2 pathway represents a promising target to effectively modulate disease progression in chronic inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. CGEN-54 is a truncated form of MCP1 that was found to antagonize the MCP1-CCR2 pathway both in vitro and in vivo. In cell culture assays, CGEN-54 was shown to inhibit MCP1-induced cell migration, whereas in vivo, CGEN-54 has beneficial effect in experimentally induced peritonitis and in OVA-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in mice. These results support a potential role for CGEN-54 in the treatment of inflammatory diseases including asthma, and potentially also multiple sclerosis and atherosclerosis.
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