Objective— We evaluated the involvement of keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC) in neointimal hyperplasia and endothelial repair after arterial injury.

Methods and Results— Expression of KC was detected by immunohistochemistry in carotid arteries of apolipoprotein E–deficient (apoE−/−) mice not earlier than 2 weeks after wire-injury. Double immunofluorescence staining revealed a colocalization of KC with Mac-2–positive macrophages. Immunoreactivity for KC and its receptor CXCR2 was detectable in regenerating CD31-positive endothelial cells. Treatment of apoE−/− mice with a blocking monoclonal antibody (mAb) to KC after carotid injury for 3 weeks substantially increased neointimal plaque area compared with isotype control-treated or untreated mice. As assessed by luminal CD31 or VE-cadherin and Evans blue staining, neutralization of KC inhibited endothelial recovery in injured arteries, whereas macrophage and smooth muscle cell content were unaffected. In vitro, treatment with KC mAb, a blocking CXCR2 mAb, or the CXCR2 antagonist _8-73GRO-α delayed KC-mediated endothelial cell chemotaxis and wound repair of endothelial monolayers after scratch injury. Conversely, addition of exogenous KC accelerated wound repair in a CXCR2-dependent manner.

Conclusions— Neutralization of KC increased plaque formation and delayed endothelial recovery after arterial injury, without affecting neointimal monocyte infiltration. As an underlying mechanism, KC was involved in promoting CXCR2-mediated endothelial chemotaxis and wound repair.