title: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor, infection, the brain, and corticosteroids.
abstract: Bacterial meningitis is a complex disorder in which injury is caused, in part, by the causative organism and, in part, by the host's own inflammatory response. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and a neuro-endocrine mediator that might play a role in pneumococcal meningitis. Here, we discuss the role of MIF in infection, the brain, and corticosteroids and conclude that experimental meningitis studies have to determine whether MIF is a potential target for adjunctive therapy in pneumococcal meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Center of Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Madelijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geldhoff
authors.forename: Barry B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Mook-Kanamori
authors.forename: Diederik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van de Beek
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors
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