The role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in maintaining the immune privilege at the fetal-maternal interface.
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pivotal regulator of the innate and adaptive immunity affecting the response and behavior of macrophages and lymphocytes. MIF is also implicated in other fundamental cellular processes including angiogenesis and cell proliferation. Several studies examined the expression of MIF in reproductive organs and tissues and its involvement in different aspects of human and animal reproduction. The goal of this review was to summarize these findings and discuss, in particular, the role of MIF in the maintenance of the immune privilege at the human fetal-maternal interface.
Viganò
Paola
P
II Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan and Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20100 Milan, Italy.
Cintorino
Marcella
M
Schatz
Frederick
F
Lockwood
Charles J
CJ
Arcuri
Felice
F
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D008222:Lymphokines; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors