title: The macrophage migration inhibitory factor homolog of Entamoeba histolytica binds to and immunomodulates host macrophages.
abstract: The host inflammatory response contributes to the tissue damage that occurs during amebic colitis, with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) being a key mediator of the gut inflammation observed. Mammalian macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in the exacerbation of a wide range of inflammatory diseases, including colitis. We identified a MIF gene homolog in the Entamoeba histolytica genome, raising the question of whether E. histolytica MIF (EhMIF) has proinflammatory activity similar to that of mammalian MIF. In this report, we describe the first functional characterization of EhMIF. Antibodies were prepared against recombinantly expressed EhMIF and used to demonstrate that EhMIF is expressed as a 12-kDa protein localized to the cytoplasm of trophozoites. In a manner similar to that of mammalian MIF, EhMIF interacted with the MIF receptor CD74 and bound to macrophages. EhMIF induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) production. In addition, EhMIF enhanced TNF-α secretion by amplifying TNF-α production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and by inhibiting the glucocorticoid-mediated suppression of TNF-α secretion. EhMIF was expressed during human infection, as evidenced by the presence of anti-EhMIF antibodies in the sera of children living in an area where E. histolytica infection is endemic. Anti-EhMIF antibodies did not cross-react with human MIF. The ability of EhMIF to modulate host macrophage function may promote an exaggerated proinflammatory immune response and contribute to the tissue damage seen in amebic colitis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Moonah
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Mayuresh M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abhyankar
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Rashidul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA wap3g@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Petri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008322:Mammals / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C045084:invariant chain