title: Cutting edge: macrophage migration inhibitory factor is necessary for progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The role of MIF in the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was explored using MIF-/- mice. Wild-type mice showed a progressive disease course, whereas MIF-/- mice exhibited acute signs but no further progression of clinical disease. MIF-/- mice displayed markedly elevated corticosterone levels and significant decreases in the inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-6 before, during, and after EAE onset. Taken together, these findings support that MIF is an important mediator of EAE progression through glucocorticoid antagonism and up-regulation of the inflammatory response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Tracey L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Papenfuss
authors.forename: Melanie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McClain
authors.forename: Ingrid E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Gienapp
authors.forename: Todd M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Shawler
authors.forename: Abhay R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Satoskar
authors.forename: Caroline C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Whitacre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003348:Cortisone / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018450:Disease Progression; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D003348:Cortisone