title: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor isolated from a parasite inhibited Th2 cytokine production in PBMCs of atopic asthma patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a previous study, we demonstrated that the human macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)-like protein (As-MIF) isolated from helminths could inhibit allergic airway inflammation via the recruitment of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical importance of As-MIF as an antiasthma drug, we evaluated immune responses after recombinant As-MIF (rAs-MIF) treatment in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures.
  
  
  METHODS
  PBMC was isolated from 10 patients with atopic asthma, 8 patients with nonatopic asthma, and 12 nonatopic healthy subjects, and various concentrations of rAs-MIF were transferred into the PBMC culture medium. After 3 days, we measured the levels of T helper 2 and T helper 1 cytokines via ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In atopic asthma, IL-4 and IL-5 production was significantly reduced in the PBMC cultures after rAs-MIF treatment. These inhibitory effects were not observed in the nonatopic asthma group. By way of contrast, IL-10 production in the PMBC cultures was significantly increased after rAs-MIF treatment in all experimental groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study are similar to those previously reported in a mouse study, suggesting that As-MIF might be a candidate for the specific treatment of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea. hsyu@pusan.ac.kr
authors.forename: Hye-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Min Kyoung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hee Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ki Uk
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yun Seong
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Ki
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soon Kew
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong-Hee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hak Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006376:Helminths / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015848:Interleukin-5; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4