Chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), also known as monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), is a small molecular weight cytokine of the CC chemokine family.CCL2 is anchored to the plasma membrane of endothelial cells via the mucopolysaccharide side chain of proteoglycans and is secreted mainly by monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells.CCL2 recruits monocytes, memory T cells, and dendritic cells to sites of inflammation caused by tissue injury or infection. CCL2 is involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases characterized by monocyte infiltration, such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and atherosclerosis.CCL2 is involved in the neuroinflammatory process of several diseases occurring in the central nervous system, manifested as neuronal degeneration.