Acts as a ligand for C-C chemokine receptor CCR2 (PubMed: 9837883, PubMed: 10587439, PubMed: 10529171). Signals through binding and activation of CCR2 and induces a strong chemotactic response and mobilization of intracellular calcium ions (PubMed: 9837883, PubMed: 10587439). Exhibits a chemotactic activity for monocytes and basophils but not neutrophils or eosinophils (PubMed: 8627182, PubMed: 9792674, PubMed: 8195247). May be involved in the recruitment of monocytes into the arterial wall during the disease process of atherosclerosis (PubMed: 8107690).