title: Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF): Biological Activities and Relation with Cancer.
abstract: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) emerged in recent years as an important inflammation mediator, playing a prominent role in the pathogenesis of various types of malignant neoplasm. MIF is a glycoprotein that presents a wide spectrum of biological activities and exerts a complex interaction with various cellular signaling pathways, causing imbalance of homeostasis. Experimental and clinical studies show that high levels of MIF are found in almost all types of human cancers and are implicated in seemingly all stages of development of the tumors. The production of MIF is triggered through an autocrine signal emitted by tumor cells, and stimulates the production of cytokines, chemokines, and growth as well as angiogenic factors that lead to growth of the tumor, increasing its aggressiveness and metastatic potential. MIF is produced by virtually all types of human body cells, in response to stress caused by different factors, leading to pathological conditions such as chronic inflammation and immunomodulation with suppression of immune surveillance and of immune response against tumors, angiogenesis, and carcinogenesis. In this review, we present recent advances on the biological activity of MIF, the signaling pathways with which it is involved and their role in tumorigenesis.
authors: Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, CEP, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil.
authors: Camila Cristina Guimarães
authors: CC
authors: Nobre
authors: Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, CEP, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil.
authors: Josélio Maria Galvão
authors: JM
authors: de Araújo
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Rio Grande do Norte State, CEP, Mossoró, RN, 59607-360, Brazil. thalesallyrio@yahoo.com.br.|Postgraduate Program in Health and Society, University of Rio Grande do Norte Stat, Mossoró, RN, Brazil. thalesallyrio@yahoo.com.br.
authors: Thales Allyrio Araújo de Medeiros
authors: TA
authors: Fernandes
authors: Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, CEP, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil.|Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Potiguar, CEP, Natal, RN, 59056-00, Brazil.
authors: Ricardo Ney Oliveira
authors: RN
authors: Cobucci
authors: Department of Biochemisty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, CEP, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil.
authors: Daniel Carlos Ferreira
authors: DC
authors: Lanza
authors: Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, CEP, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil.
authors: Vânia Sousa
authors: VS
authors: Andrade
authors: Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, CEP, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil. veris@cb.ufrn.br.
authors: José Veríssimo
authors: JV
authors: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors
keywords: Inflammation; Macrophage migration inhibitory factor; Neoplasms; Tumorigenesis