MIP-1α (microphage inflammatory protein-1α), or CCL3 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 3), was originally isolated from the supernatant of endotoxin-stimulated murine macrophages. It is an 8kDa chemokine; chemokines are a type of chemotactic cytokines.
MIP-1α (microphage inflammatory protein-1α), or CCL3 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 3), and its receptors- CCR1 and CCR5- promote tumor growth and control osteoclast differentiation, thereby contributing to bone disease progression in multiple myeloma. It suppresses the expression of miR-374b through JNK (Janus kinase), ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinases), and p38 pathways, thus, facilitating VEGF-A (vascular endothelial growth factor) expression and angiogenesis in human osteosarcoma cells. In chondrosarcoma cells, this protein promotes the up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP)-2, thus, promoting cell migration and metastasis.
