Impairment of macrophage migration inhibitory factor synthesis and macrophage migration in protein-malnourished mice

Weanling CD2F1 mice were fed isocaloric diets that were protein sufficient (PS; containing 27% casein) or protein deficient (PD; containing 8% casein). Weight measurements demonstrated that the growth of PD mice was significantly impaired, thus indicating that the PD diet induced protein malnutrition. The cellular immune responsiveness of these mice was assessed from Day 21 to Day 49 of the diet using, as indicators, in vitro production of migration inhibitory factor (MIF) by splenic lymphocytes and MIF responsiveness of peritoneal macrophages. PD lymphocytes, when stimulated with the polyclonal activator concanavalin A, produced significantly less MIF than did PS lymphocytes. The amount of MIF produced by PD lymphocytes, however, increased throughout the study, possibly indicating delayed maturation of MIF synthetic capacity in PD mice. Normal CD2F1 mouse macrophages were used for these assays. MIF responsiveness of PD and PS macrophages was not significantly different when assayed using MIF produced by normal CD2F1 mouse lymphocytes. As compared to that of PS macrophages, the migratory ability of PD macrophages decreased progressively throughout the study. This impaired migratory ability did not interfere with MIF responsiveness of PD macrophages.     

Human recombinant migration inhibitory factor activates human macrophages to kill Leishmania donovani

A recombinant form of the first lymphokine to be discovered, migration inhibitory factor (rMIF) was obtained from COS-1 cells transfected with a cDNA library from a human T cell hybridoma (6). rMIF has an amino acid sequence unrelated to that of any known protein. To learn more about the biology of MIF, we tested its ability to effect the survival of Leishmania donovani in macrophages. We found that rMIF activates blood monocyte-derived macrophages in vitro to suppress the growth of and kill these intracellular parasites. The anti-leishmanial effect (ranging from 50 to 77% reduction of parasites) is maximal when macrophages have been incubated with rMIF 48 to 72 h before infection and is similar to that seen with macrophages activated by IFN-gamma. Of interest, whereas the activation of human macrophages by IFN-gamma is inhibited by IL-4 and not enhanced by LPS, the activation by rMIF is enhanced by LPS but is not inhibited by IL-4. The data presented here demonstrate that rMIF is a potent activator of macrophages and is likely to be critical in cell-mediated immune host defenses.     

Human recombinant migration inhibitory factor activates human macrophages to kill tumor cells.

A recombinant form of human migration inhibitory factor (rMIF) obtained from COS-1 cells transfected with MIF-specific cDNA is able to activate cultured human peripheral blood monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages, in a dose-dependent manner to become cytotoxic for tumor cells in vitro. The cytotoxicity exhibited by macrophages treated with rMIF is > or = 30% above that of cells incubated with control supernatants or with media and peaks 72 hr after the addition of tumor targets. rMIF also induces macrophages to produce tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). These results demonstrate that rMIF is able to modulate macrophage functions and plays a role in cell-mediated immune response.     

Regulation of tumor necrosis factor gene expression and protein synthesis in murine macrophages treated with recombinant tumor necrosis factor

The effect of murine rTNF-alpha on c-fos and TNF mRNA accumulation and protein synthesis was investigated in bone marrow-derived macrophages to examine the mechanism(s) by which TNF modulates macrophage activity. A rapid and transient expression of the c-fos gene was induced by murine rTNF. This was blocked by 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, suggesting that the murine rTNF stimulated a protein kinase C-dependent signal transduction pathway. Although LPS induced the accumulation of one TNF mRNA species, murine rTNF induced the synthesis of two distinct TNF mRNA species. Both LPS- and murine rTNF-induced TNF mRNA accumulation was equally enhanced by pretreatment with mouse rIFN-gamma. In contrast, cycloheximide pretreatment had little effect on murine rTNF-induced TNF mRNA accumulation, whereas this treatment increased LPS-induced TNF mRNA by sevenfold. These results argue that TNF mRNA accumulation can be modulated in macrophages by distinct mechanisms. As assessed by Western blot and immunoprecipitation analysis, LPS stimulated the synthesis of both cell-associated and secreted forms of TNF protein. In comparison, newly synthesized TNF protein was not detected when macrophages were treated with murine rTNF alone or in combination with murine rIFN-gamma. This demonstrates that although murine rTNF stimulated the synthesis of two distinct TNF mRNA species, additional signal(s) are necessary for their translation into protein and that such signals are present after LPS stimulation.     

Refractoriness to migration inhibitory factor of macrophages of LPS nonresponder mouse strains.

The responsiveness to macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) from the LPS unresponsive C3H/HeJ and C57BL/10ScCR mice was assessed by the indirect agarose microdroplet macrophage migration inhibition assay. No migration inhibition with PEC from C3H/HeJ nor C57BL/10ScCR mice was detected, whereas PEC from both C3H/HeN and C57BL/10Sn mice were significantly inhibited by even a 1/32 dilution of MIF-containing supernatants. Responsiveness to MIF of C3H/HeJ PEC could, however, be induced. In vivo inoculations of Mycobacterium bovis, strain BCG, 7 days before in vitro assay rendered C3H/HeJ PEC responsive to MIF. The lack of responsiveness to MIF by C3H/HeJ PEC appeared related to some form of suppression, since a mixture of PEC from C3H/HeN mice with 10 to 15% PEC from C3H/HeJ mice resulted in undetectable migration inhibition at any MIF dilution. In contrast to the usual lack of responsiveness of their macrophage to MIF, C3H/HeJ mice were able to produce MIK in response to PPD as well as their counterpart C3H/HeN mice after BCG sensitization. These results demonstrate that macrophages from C3H/HeJ and C57BL/10ScCR mice are unable to be inhibited in their in vitro migration of MIF (possibly being directly or indirectly influenced by a suppressor cell), whereas lymphoid cells from at least one of these strains, the C3H/HeJ mice, can produce MIF in response to antigenic stimulation.     

Loss of autophagy enhances MIF/macrophage migration inhibitory factor release by macrophages

MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor [glycosylation-inhibiting factor]) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine expressed in multiple cells types, including macrophages. MIF plays a pathogenic role in a number of inflammatory diseases and has been linked to tumor progression in some cancers. Previous work has demonstrated that loss of autophagy in macrophages enhances secretion of IL1 family cytokines. Here, we demonstrate that loss of autophagy, by pharmacological inhibition or siRNA silencing of Atg5, enhances MIF secretion by monocytes and macrophages. We further demonstrate that this is dependent on mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). Induction of autophagy with MTOR inhibitors had no effect on MIF secretion, but amino acid starvation increased secretion. This was unaffected by Atg5 siRNA but was again dependent on mitochondrial ROS. Our data demonstrate that autophagic regulation of mitochondrial ROS plays a pivotal role in the regulation of inflammatory cytokine secretion in macrophages, with potential implications for the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases and cancers.     

Enhancement of oxidised low-density lipoprotein uptake by macrophages in response to macrophage migration inhibitory factor

We examined the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) mRNA in murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7 cells) in response to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), and investigated the influence of MIF on the uptake and degradation of oxLDL by RAW 264.7 cells. MIF mRNA expression was markedly upregulated in the presence of oxLDL. Consistent with this, the MIF level of the culture medium was increased by stimulation with oxLDL in dose- and time-dependent manners. Next, we added recombinant rat MIF to the culture medium and examined its effects on the uptake of(125)I-labelled oxLDL. Pretreatment with MIF enhanced both the uptake and degradation of(125)I-oxLDL. Taken together, these results suggest that MIF released from macrophages in response to oxLDL stimulates oxLDL uptake and degradation in an autocrine and paracrine fashion, which potentially results in atherosclerosis.     

巨噬细胞迁移抑制因子基因多态性与结直肠癌风险研究

目的研究巨噬细胞迁移抑制因子(macrophage migration inhibitory factor,MIF)基因单核苷酸多态性(SNPs;rs755662,rs11548059,rs1049829,rs1803976)与结直肠癌发生风险的关系。方法收集共计192例结直肠癌患者(CRC)和256名正常对照者外周血样本,以聚合酶链反应和Taqman探针分析方法,检测MIF基因单核苷酸多态性;以Logistic回归模型计算不同基因型与结直肠癌发生风险的关系。结果 rs755662基因型的出现频率在CRC组和正常对照组之间差异有统计学意义(P=0.011),而在rs11548059、rs1049829和rs1803976位点则差异无统计学意义(P=0.660、P=0.700和P=0.959)。此外,rs755662还分别与早期发病(年龄≤50岁,P=0.026)、分期(Ⅳ期,P=0.038)以及分化(P=0.040)有关。与正常对照组比,rs755662与Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期显著相关(P值分别为0.034和0.003)。结论 MIF基因5′-UTR区域rs755662(G/C)单核苷酸多态性与结直肠癌的易感性、患者发病年龄和分期有关。     

Chemical treatment of macrophages increases their responsiveness to migration inhibitory factor (MIF).

The response of guinea pig macrophages to migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is altered by several chemical treatments. Treatment of macrophages with the diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid (5 x 10(-6) to 4 x 10(-4) M) significantly increases the response of these cells to MIF. Treatment with acetic anhydride also augments the response of these cells to MIF. The latter finding suggests that alteration of amino, hydroxyl, or sulfhydryl groups is involved in this phenomenon. Treatment of macrophages with sodium periodate (2 x 10(-5) to 10(-3) M) which is known to oxidize cis-glycols and with hydroxylamine (2 x 10(-5) to 2 x 10(-3) M), which reacts with carbonyl groups also increases response to MIF. The following experiments suggest that the significant alteration occurs at the level of the cell surface. Incubation of macrophages with the diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid at 4 degrees C, at which temperature pinocytosis is largely inhibited, is sufficient to increase the MIF response. The activity of the cytoplasmic enzyme aspartate aminotransferase, which in homogenates is susceptible to inactivation by low concentrations of the diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid, is not decreased when intact macrophages are incubated with high concentrations of the diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid. Cumulatively, these findings suggest that modification of different functional groups on the macrophage surface causes the same physiologic effect.     

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor in Nodding syndrome

Nodding syndrome (NS) is a catastrophic and enigmatic childhood epilepsy, accompanied by multiple neurological impairments and neuroinflammation. Of all the infectious, environmental and psychological factors associated with NS, the major culprit is Onchocerca Volvulus (Ov)–a parasitic worm transmitted to human by blackflies. NS seems to be an ’Autoimmune Epilepsy’ in light of the recent findings of deleterious autoimmune antibodies to Glutamate receptors and to Leiomodin-I in NS patients. Moreover, we recently found immunogenetic fingerprints in HLA peptide-binding grooves associate with protection or susceptibility to NS. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an immune-regulatory cytokine playing a central role in modulating innate and adaptive immunity. MIF is also involved in various pathologies: infectious, autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy and others. Herein, two functional polymorphisms in the MIF gene, a −794 CATT_5–8 microsatellite repeat and a −173 G/C single-nucleotide polymorphism, were assessed in 49 NS patients and 51 healthy controls from South Sudan. We also measured MIF plasma levels in established NS patients and healthy controls. We discovered that the frequency of the high-expression MIF -173C containing genotype was significantly lower in NS patients compared to healthy controls. Interestingly however, MIF plasma levels were significantly elevated in NS patients than in healthy controls. We further demonstrated that the HLA protective and susceptibility associations are dominant over the MIF association with NS. Our findings suggest that MIF might have a dual role in NS. Genetically controlled high-expression MIF genotype is associated with disease protection. However, elevated MIF in the plasma may contribute to the detrimental autoimmunity, neuroinflammation and epilepsy.     

The expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the non-small cell lung cancer

ObjectiveThe objective was to investigate the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as the effects of macrophage MIF on tumor cells.MethodsThe human NSCLC cell strains H358 and H524 were selected as research objects. The Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blot were utilized to detect the expression levels of MIF in human NSCLC cell strains. The lentiviral plasmid was utilized for MIF-mRNA interference. The expression levels of MIF before and after transfection were compared. The cell strains were cultured and proliferated for cell count and comparison.ResultsH358 showed MIF high expression while H524 showed MIF low expression. Once the H358 cells were constructed as silent MIF expression, compared with the original H358 cells, the difference was statistically significant. Once the H524 cells were constructed as high MIF expression, compared with original H524 cells, the difference was statistically significant. Being cultured for respective 3, 5, and 7 days, the transfected H358 cells showed a significant decrease in proliferative activity compared with original H358 cells, while the transfected H524 cells showed a significant increase in proliferative activity compared with original H524 cells.ConclusionMIF has high expression in H358 cells while low expression in H524 cells. The expression of MIF could enhance the proliferative activity of NSCLC tumor cells.     

c-fos and tumor necrosis factor gene expression in Leishmania donovani-infected macrophages.

Leishmania donovani is an obligate intracellular protozoan which resides in macrophages and impairs a number of macrophage functions. We have undertaken to study this host cell-parasite interaction by examining the ability of L. donovani to impair the transmission of information from the cell surface to the nucleus and thus influence normal gene expression. We demonstrate that, in response to lipopolysaccharide, expression of both the c-fos and tumor necrosis factor genes was impaired in L. donovani-infected macrophages. Indomethacin reversed the parasite-mediated downregulation of the tumor necrosis factor gene but not the c-fos gene, suggesting that the impaired expression of these two genes occurred through different mechanisms. Direct stimulation of protein kinase C with oleoyl-2-acetoyl-3-glycerol did not abrogate inhibition of c-fos gene expression by L. donovani; however, L929 cell-conditioned medium induced a similar level of c-fos gene expression in both infected and noninfected macrophages. Impairment of c-fos gene expression by L. donovani thus appeared to be selective, depending on the external stimuli used to induce its expression. These data argue that L. donovani was capable of impairing macrophage gene expression in a selective rather than a general manner.     

巨噬细胞移动抑制因子及其在动脉粥样硬化中的作用

巨噬细胞移动抑制因子（macrophage migration inhibitory factor,MIF）,其主要作用为抑制巨噬细胞的游走移动、促进巨噬细胞在炎症局部浸润、聚集、激活及分泌一些细胞因子,如IL-1、TNF—α、NO等,从而间接增强巨噬细胞的功能。巨噬细胞不仅是产生MIF的主要细胞,也是MIF作用的靶细胞,因此MIF在巨噬细胞参与调节的各种疾病尤其是动脉粥样硬化中发挥着重要作用。研究表明,血管发生动脉粥样硬化部位的MIF表达水平明显上调,且随着斑块的发展逐渐上升;相反,阻断MIF的表达则可以显著廷缓动脉粥样硬化的发撮并稳定斑块。因此,MIF在单核巨噬细胞的血管粘附、跨膜移动、内皮下聚集、泡沫细胞的形成及斑块稳定中的作用可能与动脉粥样硬化的发生和发展有密切关系。本文将主要就MIF的生理及病理生理学功能特别是其在动脉粥样硬化发病及治疗中的作用作一综述。     

High expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the synovial tissues of rheumatoid joints

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) plays an important role in inflammation and immunity via autocrine/paracrine and endocrine routes. We examined the presence of MIF in the synovial fluids of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The content of MIF in the synovial fluid was quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay which revealed that the concentration of MIF for RA patients was 85. 7+/-35.2 ng/ml (mean+/-SD) (n=25). In comparison, the concentrations for osteoarthritis patients and normal volunteers were 19.5+/-5.3 ng/ml (n=12) and 10.4+/-1.1 ng/ml (n=5), respectively. The expression of MIF mRNA and presence of MIF protein in the synovial tissues of RA were demonstrated by Northern blot and Western blot analyses, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that positive staining was largely observed in the cytoplasm of infiltrating T lymphocytes, which might be the major source of MIF detected in the synovial fluids. The pathophysiological role of MIF in RA remains to be elucidated; however, the present results for the first time suggest the possibility that MIF is involved in the potentiation of inflammatory and immunological responses in rheumatoid joints.