The complex role of the chemokine receptor CCR2 in collagen-induced arthritis: implications for therapeutic targeting of CCR2 in rheumatoid arthritis

CCR2 has been widely considered as a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune disease, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, and various CCR2 blocking agents have been developed, some of which have entered clinical trials. In this review, we examine the relevant information regarding the role of CCR2, and to a lesser extent of the closely related chemokine receptor CCR5, in the immunopathogenesis of collagen-induced arthritis, an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis. Experimental evidence showing that CIA is accelerated and exacerbated when CCR2 is genetically inactivated (knockout mice) or blocked with specific antibodies warrant additional investigations before the relevance of the findings in rodent models can be applied to human patients with RA.