Macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression and MIF gene -173 G/C polymorphism in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) expression and -173 G/C polymorphism of the MIF gene in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).


METHODS
Ninety-one patients with diagnosis of NAFLD and 104 healthy controls were included in the study. MIF -173 G/C polymorphism was detected using the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism based method. NAFLD was stratified as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), probable NASH and steatosis, respectively in groups 1, 2 and 3, according to NAFLD Activity Score. MIF expression was detected by immunohistochemistry staining.


RESULTS
Mean age of the patients was 50.1+/-9.6 years, and 54 of them were male. Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were 50/83, 42/63 and 31/32, respectively in groups 1, 2 and 3, (P<0.05). Both the MIF expression of hepatocytes and mononuclear cells were more prominent in groups 1 and 2 than group 3. There was no correlation between MIF expression of hepatocytes and fibrosis stage. However, MIF expression of mononuclear cells significantly increased according to fibrosis stage (P<0.05, R : 0.2). There was no significant correlation between MIF genotype and MIF expression in the liver.


CONCLUSIONS
MIF expression is significantly increased especially by mononuclear cells in liver tissue of patients with NASH secondary to inflammation. Thus, it should be considered as a consequence not a causal factor.
Akyildiz
Murat
M
Department of Gastroenterology, Ege University Medical School, Bornova, Izmir 35100, Turkey. akyildizmr@yahoo.com
Gunsar
Fulya
F
Nart
Deniz
D
Sahin
Osman
O
Yilmaz
Funda
F
Akay
Sinan
S
Ersoz
Galip
G
Karasu
Zeki
Z
Ilter
Tankut
T
Batur
Yucel
Y
Berdeli
Afig
A
Akarca
Ulus
U
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015854:Up-Regulation
D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C515598:MIF protein, human