Method for treating atherosclerosis by administering human MCP1 fusions

1. A method for impeding migration of CCR2-bearing cells into inflammatory tissue, in a subject with atherosclerosis, comprising administering, to the subject, a therapeutically effective amount of an isolated polypeptide comprising a human MCPI polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 fused to a human immunoglobulin gamma-1 polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the polypeptide comprising the human MCP1 polypeptide and the human immunoglobulin gamma-1 polypeptide comprises one human MCP1 polypeptide fused to one human immunoglobulin gamma-1 polypeptide.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the polypeptides are fused by a peptide linker.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the polypeptide comprising the human MCP1 polypeptide and the human immunoglobulin gamma-1 polypeptide is in a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the polypeptide comprising the human MCP1 polypeptide and the immunoglobulin gamma-1 polypeptide is administered to the subject in association with one or more further therapeutic agents.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the further therapeutic agent is a member selected from the group consisting of valdecoxib; triamcinolone acetonide; tolmetin; tiaprofenic acid; tenoxicam; tazarotene; sulindac; sulfasalazine; salicylic acid; rofecoxib; prednicarbate; piroxicam, salsalate; phenylbutazone; petroleum jelly; penicillamine; oxaprozin; oilated oatmeal; naproxen; nabumetone; mycophenolate mofetil; mometasone furoate; metronidazole; methotrexate; mesalamine; meloxicam; mefenamic acid; meclofenamate; lumiracoxib; ketorolac; ketoprofen; isotretinoin; injectable gold; infliximab; indomethacin; ibuprofen; hydroxyurea; hydroxychloroquine; hydrocortisone; halobetasol propionate; halcinonide; gold sodium thiomalate; fluticasone propionate; flurbiprofen; flurandrenolide; fluocinonide; fluocinolone acetonide; floctafenine; fenoprofen; etoricoxib; etodolac; etanercept; epsom salts; efalizumab; diflunisal; diflorasone diacetate; diclofenac; desoximetasone; desonide; Dead Sea salts; cyclosporine; coal tar; clobetasol propionate; ciprofloxacin; chloroquine; celecoxib; calcipotriene; budesonide; betamethasone valerate; betamethasone dipropionate; betamethasone benzoate; azathioprine; aurothioglucose; auranofin; aspirin; anthralin; anakinra; amcinonide; aloe vera; alefacept; alclometasone dipropionate; adalimumab; acitretin; ABX-IL8; a mixture of hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone and prednisolone; a dietary vitamin B12 supplement; a dietary folate supplement; a dietary calcium supplement; 6-Thioguanine; and 6-mercaptopurine.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the polypeptide comprising the human MCP1 polypeptide and the human immunoglobulin gamma-1 polypeptide is administered in association with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or a COX-2 inhibitor.