title: Increased levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  MIF is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in reproduction. Systemic activation of maternal inflammatory cell responses may play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). We hypothesized that MIF could be involved in preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concentration of immunoreactive MIF was assayed by enzyme-linked immunoassorbent assay (ELISA) in maternal serum samples obtained from 41 term control pregnancies and 21 severe preeclamptic pregnancies (14 delivered before and 7 at or after 34 weeks).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MIF serum levels were significantly higher in preeclamptic pregnancies (median 12.74 ng/ml) than in control group (median 5.3n g/ml) p = 0.001. MIF concentration was significantly higher when delivery occurred <34 weeks (median 17.80 ng/ml; range 2.80-80.20) than in the group delivered > or = 34 weeks (median 6.16 ng/ml; range 1.62-23.65) p = 0.037.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High maternal serum levels MIF in pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia strongly support the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Turin, Via Ventimiglia, 3, 10126 Turin, Italy. tullia.todros@unito.it
authors.forename: Tullia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Todros
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bontempo
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piccoli
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ietta
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Marilisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biolcati
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castellucci
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paulesu
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors