The presence of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in human trabecular meshwork and its upregulatory effects on the T helper 1 cytokine.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression and secretion of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in human trabecular meshwork (HTM) and evaluate its role in ocular inflammation.


METHODS
Tissue samples of HTM cells were isolated from donor human eyes or corneoscleral buttons, and the HTM cells were cultured. The expression of MIF on HTM cells was evaluated by RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and ELISA. T-cell clones (TCCs) were established from ocular infiltrating cells of patients with uveitis. ELISA was used to evaluate the pathologic role of MIF, in relation to regulatory effects on cytokine production by T cells.


RESULTS
MIF was detected in the HTM by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. MIF was also shown by ELISA to be secreted by the HTM cells in culture. The HTM supernatant enhanced IFN-gamma production by TCCs, but not IL-10; and these effects were neutralized by anti-MIF antibodies. Similarly, recombinant MIF enhanced the IFN-gamma production by the TCCs.


CONCLUSIONS
MIF is expressed and secreted in the HTM, and MIF has the capacity to enhance T helper 1 cytokines and may play a role as an inflammatory cytokine in the eye.
Takase
Hiroshi
H
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, Tokyo, Japan.
Sugita
Sunao
S
Rhee
Douglas J
DJ
Imai
Yasuhisa
Y
Taguchi
Chikako
C
Sugamoto
Yoshiharu
Y
Tagawa
Yoshitsugu
Y
Nishihira
Jun
J
Russell
Paul
P
Mochizuki
Manabu
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014605:Uveitis / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger