title: The levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor as an indicator of disease activity and severity in adult-onset Still's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) and explored the role of this pro-inflammatory cytokine in the systemic inflammation of AOSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum MIF levels were measured by ELISA in patients with AOSD and controls. Intracellular MIF production by peripheral blood leukocytes was detected by three-color flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum MIF levels were significantly increased in patients with AOSD. Serum MIF levels were significantly higher in AOSD patients with sore throat, myalgias, splenomegaly, or pleuritis, and were closely correlated with clinical disease severity and activity. Examined by flow cytometry, the intracellular MIF levels in monocytes and T-lymphocytes from AOSD patients were significantly higher than those from healthy subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data represent the first demonstration of increased MIF expression in AOSD, and suggest that MIF may be an important marker for disease evaluation and monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 145 Middle Shan Dong Road, Shanghai 200001, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Qiong
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Liang-Jing
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shu-Jie
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-De
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Shun-Le
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng-De
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016706:Still's Disease, Adult-Onset / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors