Monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3)/fibroblast-induced cytokine (FIC), a CC chemokine, is chemotactic for cells that typically infiltrate the late-phase allergic reaction. We developed a mouse model of airway inflammation to study the role of MCP-3/FIC. The immunization of mice with OVA resulted in Ag-specific IgE Ab production and the expression of mRNA for IL-4 in the lung tissue. Two weeks after immunization mice were challenged with the allergen by inhalation. Lungs were lavaged, and the tissue was examined at 2 or 24 h. Allergen challenge resulted in the increased recovery of leukocytes in the lavage fluid, but saline challenge did not. There was a significant increase in eosinophils (29 +/- 8% vs 1.2 +/- 0.2%) and lymphocytes (25 +/- 4% vs 5 +/- 2%) in the bronchoaveolar lavage fluid. Histologic examination of the lung demonstrated intense airway inflammation following OVA challenge. The expression of MCP-3/FIC and other CC chemokines (MCP-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha, and RANTES) was investigated by reverse transcription-PCR followed by densitometric analyses. The allergen challenge up-regulated the expression of mRNA for MCP-1, MCP-3/FIC, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha at 2 and/or 24 h. Immunocytochemical staining for MCP-3/FIC showed that the allergen challenge induced the expression of MCP-3/FIC predominantly in the airway epithelium. Pretreatment of mice with an anti-MCP-3/FIC Ab significantly inhibited the OVA-induced airway inflammation and the bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophilia (8 +/- 2% vs 46 +/- 11% after control Ab, p < 0.03). We conclude that MCP-3/FIC plays a significant role in the allergen-induced eosinophilic inflammation of the airways.