Impaired host defense, hematopoiesis, granulomatous inflammation and type 1-type 2 cytokine balance in mice lacking CC chemokine receptor 1

J Exp Med. 1997 Jun 2;185(11):1959-68. doi: 10.1084/jem.185.11.1959.

Abstract

CC chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1) is expressed in neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and eosinophils, and binds the leukocyte chemoattractant and hematopoiesis regulator macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, as well as several related CC chemokines. Four other CCR subtypes are known; their leukocyte and chemokine specificities overlap with, but are not identical to, CCR1, suggesting that CCR1 has both redundant and specific biologic roles. To test this, we have developed CCR1-deficient mice (-/-) by targeted gene disruption. Although the distribution of mature leukocytes was normal, steady state and induced trafficking and proliferation of myeloid progenitor cells were disordered in -/- mice. Moreover, mature neutrophils from -/- mice failed to chemotax in vitro and failed to mobilize into peripheral blood in vivo in response to MIP-1alpha. Consistent with this, -/- mice had accelerated mortality when challenged with Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus controlled principally by neutrophils. To test the role of CCR1 in granuloma formation, we injected Schistosoma mansoni eggs intravenously, and observed a 40% reduction in the size of lung granulomas in -/- mice compared to +/+ littermates. This was associated with increased interferon-gamma and decreased interleukin-4 production in -/- versus +/+ lung lymph node cells stimulated with egg-specific antigen, suggesting that CCR1 influences the inflammatory response not only through direct effects on leukocyte chemotaxis, but also through effects on the type 1-type 2 cytokine balance. Thus CCR1 has nonredundant functions in hematopoiesis, host defense, and inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aspergillosis / immunology*
  • Aspergillus fumigatus
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cell Division
  • Chemokine CCL3
  • Chemokine CCL4
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Gene Targeting
  • Granuloma / immunology*
  • Hematopoiesis*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / physiology
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / pharmacology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutagenesis / genetics
  • Neutrophils / immunology*
  • Receptors, CCR1
  • Receptors, Chemokine*
  • Receptors, Cytokine / deficiency
  • Receptors, Cytokine / genetics
  • Receptors, Cytokine / physiology*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / immunology

Substances

  • Ccr1 protein, mouse
  • Chemokine CCL3
  • Chemokine CCL4
  • Cytokines
  • Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins
  • Receptors, CCR1
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • Receptors, Cytokine
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Calcium