Macrophage migration inhibitory factor deficiency impairs atherosclerosis in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice.
BACKGROUND
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine expressed widely by vascular cells. However, scant in vivo evidence supports direct participation of MIF in atherogenesis. Therefore, we investigated whether deficiency of MIF modulates atherosclerotic lesion formation and composition in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLr-/-) mice.


RESULTS
MIF-/-LDLr-/- and LDLr-/- mice were generated and consumed an atherogenic diet for 12 or 26 weeks. MIF-/-LDLr-/- mice had significantly reduced abdominal aorta lipid deposition and intimal thickening from aortic arch throughout the abdominal aorta compared with LDLr-/- mice. Marked retardation of atherosclerosis over time in MIF-deficient mice accompanied decreased lesion cell proliferation. At 26 weeks, 20% of MIF-deficient mice developed only early, fatty streak-like lesions, whereas >80% of LDLr-/- mice developed advanced lesions containing calcification and lipid cores. Analysis of smooth muscle cells from mouse aortae demonstrated that MIF deficiency reduced smooth muscle cell proliferation, cysteine protease expression, and elastinolytic and collagenolytic activities.


CONCLUSIONS
Deficiency of MIF reduces atherogenesis in LDLr-/- mice. These results provide novel insight into inflammatory pathways operating in atheromata and identify a new potential target for modulating atherogenesis.
Pan
Jie-Hong
JH
Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, Calif, USA.
Sukhova
Galina K
GK
Yang
Jing-Tian
JT
Wang
Bing
B
Xie
Tao
T
Fu
Huanxiang
H
Zhang
Yaou
Y
Satoskar
Abhay R
AR
David
John R
JR
Metz
Christine N
CN
Bucala
Richard
R
Fang
Kenneth
K
Simon
Daniel I
DI
Chapman
Harold A
HA
Libby
Peter
P
Shi
Guo-Ping
GP
D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002455:Cell Division; D017364:Collagenases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D008055:Lipids; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D017364:Collagenases; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C076231:Mif protein, mouse