title: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor in lung tissue of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients.
abstract: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe interstitial lung disorder characterized by a pattern of Usual Interstitial Pneumonia where the presence of fibroblastic foci is the hallmark of the disease.
  
  
  
  In the present study, we analyzed the migration inhibitory factor (MIF) expression in lung tissue of IPF patients compared with healthy controls and organizing pneumonia (OP) patients focusing into MIF potential role in fibroblastic foci development.
  
  
  
  The immunohistochemical analysis was performed in 10 IPF patients (7 male), 3 OP patients (2 male), and 3 healthy controls (all male) using the streptavidin-biotin method (Dako).
  
  
  
  In IPF samples, MIF resulted overexpressed in the areas of active fibrosis and, in particular, in the alveolar epithelium, bronchiolar epithelium, and in the peripheral zones of fibroblastic foci. Bronchiolar epithelium from organizing pneumonia patients resulted only weakly positive for MIF while no evidence of MIF expression was reported for alveolar epithelium. In the control subject group, MIF was unexpressed except for a weak presence in the bronchiolar epithelium.
  
  
  
  In conclusion, MIF is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of IPF being mainly expressed in the areas of remodeling and active fibrosis, in bronchiolar and alveolar epithelium, and in the peripheral zone of fibroblastic foci.
authors.affiliation: a UOC Respiratory Diseases and Lung Transplantation , Department of Internal and Specialist Medicine , University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.affiliation: a UOC Respiratory Diseases and Lung Transplantation , Department of Internal and Specialist Medicine , University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bargagli
authors.affiliation: b Pneumology Unit , IRCCS San Matteo Foundation Hospital , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inghilleri
authors.affiliation: b Pneumology Unit , IRCCS San Matteo Foundation Hospital , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.affiliation: c Section of Pathology , Department of Medical Biotechnology , University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cintorino
authors.affiliation: a UOC Respiratory Diseases and Lung Transplantation , Department of Internal and Specialist Medicine , University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rottoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018549:Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors
keywords: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; lung tissue; macrophage migration inhibitory factor