Macrophage migration inhibitory factor: critical role in obesity, insulin resistance, and associated comorbidities.
Obesity is associated with insulin resistance, disturbed glucose homeostasis, low grade inflammation, and comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an ubiquitously expressed protein that plays a crucial role in many inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Increasing evidence suggests that MIF also controls metabolic and inflammatory processes underlying the development of metabolic pathologies associated with obesity. This is a comprehensive summary of our current knowledge on the role of MIF in obesity and obesity-associated comorbidities, based on human clinical data as well as animal models of disease.
Kleemann
Robert
R
Department of Biosciences, Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-Quality of Life, Zernikedreef 9, 2301 CE Leiden, The Netherlands. robert.kleemann@tno.nl
Bucala
Richard
R
D000818:Animals; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D005947:Glucose