Macrophage migration inhibitory factor in ocular fluids of patients with uveitis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in intraocular fluids of uveitis patients, the capacity of intraocular infiltrating lymphocytes to produce MIF, and the correlation between MIF levels in the eye and intraocular inflammatory activity.


METHODS
MIF levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using (1) aqueous humour (AH) of 12 uveitis patients and eight control patients with cataract, (2) vitreous fluid of 15 uveitis patients and eight control patients with idiopathic macular hole, and (3) culture supernatants of T cell clones (TCCs) established from intraocular fluids of uveitis patients. MIF expression on infiltrating cells was determined by a double staining immunofluorescence technique using a flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Significant levels of MIF were detected from intraocular fluids of uveitis patients (4.0 (SD 3.0) ng/ml in AH and 16.5 (24.7) ng/ml in vitreous), whereas MIF levels in control groups were below the detectable levels. There was a significant correlation between MIF levels and vitreous inflammation (29.7 (30.0) ng/ml in active uveitis v 3.3 (2.6) ng/ml in inactive uveitis, p< 0.05). Significant levels of MIF were detected in culture supernatants of TCCs from ocular fluids of uveitis patients. MIF was expressed on infiltrating CD4+ lymphocytes from vitreous of uveitis patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant levels of MIF are present in intraocular fluids of patients with uveitis. Lymphocytes infiltrating in the eye are capable of producing MIF. MIF levels in vitreous fluid are correlated with vitreous inflammation activity. These data thus indicate that MIF in the eye has a significant role in the pathophysiology of ocular inflammation.
Taguchi
C
C
Department of Ophthalmology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.
Sugita
S
S
Tagawa
Y
Y
Nishihira
J
J
Mochizuki
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000737:chemistry*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014605:Uveitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000737:chemistry*
D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors