CCL7 promotes macrophage polarization and synovitis to exacerbate rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT: Chemokine C-C motif ligand 7 (CCL7) is implicated in various immune and inflammatory processes; however, its role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear. In this study, we observed that CCL7 expression was upregulated in synovial M1-polarized macrophages and in the serum of RA mice and patients. CCL7 was found to promote macrophage polarization toward the M1 phenotype while inhibiting M2 differentiation in vitro. Furthermore, intra-articular injection of recombinant CCL7 protein in mice resulted in enhanced M1 polarization, increased inflammation, and fibrosis within synovial tissues, which exacerbated arthritis-associated pain. These effects were partially mitigated by treatment with a CCL7 neutralizing antibody. Mechanistically, we identified a CCL7 autocrine positive feedba

SUBMITTER: Chen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11987677 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature