title: Molecular cloning and functional characterization of the avian macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF).
abstract: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is recognized as a soluble factor produced by sensitized T lymphocytes and inhibits the random migration of macrophages. Recent studies have revealed a more prominent role for MIF as a multi-functional cytokine mediating both innate and adaptive immune responses. This study describes the cloning and functional characterization of avian MIF in an effort to better understand its role in innate and adaptive immunity, and potential use in poultry health applications. The full-length avian MIF gene was amplified from stimulated chicken lymphocytes and cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector. The confirmed 115 amino acid sequence of avian MIF has 71% identity with human and murine MIF. The bacterially expressed avian recombinant MIF (rChMIF) was purified, followed by endotoxin removal, and then tested by chemotactic assay and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Diff-Quick staining revealed a substantial decrease in migration of macrophages in the presence of 0.01microg/ml rChMIF. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the presence of rChMIF enhanced levels of IL-1beta and iNOS during PBMCs stimulation with LPS. Additionally, the Con A-stimulated lymphocytes showed enhanced interferon (IFN)-gamma and IL-2 transcripts in the presence of rChMIF. Interestingly, addition of rChMIF to the stimulated PBMCs, in the presence of lymphocytes, showed anti-inflammatory function of rChMIF. To our knowledge, this study represents the first report for the functional characterization of avian MIF, demonstrating the inhibition of macrophage migration, similar to mammalian MIF, and the mediation of inflammatory responses during antigenic stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Avian Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, 3170 Litton-Reaves, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States.
authors.forename: Sungwon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kate B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Miska
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Ray H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Fetterer
authors.forename: Chasity M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Lindsay H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Stuard
authors.forename: Rami A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dalloul
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D054442:Cell Migration Assays, Macrophage; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors