Up-regulation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in infants with acute neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and its downstream cytokine cascade in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).


RESULTS
The expression of MIF mRNA and protein in NEC guts was assayed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Concentrations of MIF, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in the serum and in the supernatant of macrophage cultures were examined by ELISA. Increased expression of MIF mRNA and protein was observed in the NEC guts, mainly in the infiltrating macrophages in the mucosa and submucosal layers. Up-regulation of MIF was associated with the accumulation of macrophages and T cells. In addition, serum levels of MIF, IL-6 and IL-8 in NEC patients during the acute stage of the disease were significantly increased. The expression of MIF decreased both locally and systemically after the disease was resolved. MIF was also found to increase the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 by macrophages isolated from healthy individuals in vitro in NEC.


CONCLUSIONS
MIF acts by stimulating macrophage production of IL-6 and IL-8. This further aggravates the inflammatory process by increasing the infiltration of neutrophils and activating inflammatory cells. The results of this study suggest that MIF plays an important role in the pathogenesis of NEC and may serve as a target for therapeutic intervention in NEC.
Ren
Y
Y
Department orf Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. reny@cc.ccf.org
Lin
C L
CL
Li
Z
Z
Chen
X Y
XY
Huang
X
X
Lui
V
V
Nicholls
J
J
Lan
H Y
HY
Tam
P K H
PK
D000208:Acute Disease; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000737:chemistry; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger