title: The non-mammalian MIF superfamily.
abstract: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was first described as a cytokine 50 years ago, and emerged in mammals as a pleiotropic protein with pro-inflammatory, chemotactic, and growth-promoting activities. In addition, MIF has gained substantial attention as a pivotal upstream mediator of innate and adaptive immune responses and with pathologic roles in several diseases. Of less importance in mammals is an intrinsic but non-physiologic enzymatic activity that points to MIF's evolution from an ancient defense molecule. Therefore, it is not surprising that mif-like genes also have been found across a range of different organisms including bacteria, plants, ‎protozoa, helminths, molluscs, arthropods, fish, amphibians and birds. While Genebank analysis identifying mif-like genes across species is extensive, contained herein is an overview of the non-mammalian MIF-like proteins that have been most well studied experimentally. For many of these organisms, MIF contributes to an innate defense system or plays a role in development. For parasitic organisms however, MIF appears to function as a virulence factor aiding in the establishment or persistence of infection by modulating the host immune response. Consequently, a combined targeting of both parasitic and host MIF could lead to more effective treatment strategies for parasitic diseases of socioeconomic importance.
authors: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB Inflammation Research Center, Gent, Belgium.
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Sparkes
authors: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB Inflammation Research Center, Gent, Belgium.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: De Baetselier
authors: Amphibian Evolution Lab, Department of Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Roelants
authors: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; VIB Structural Biology Research Center, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Carl
authors: C
authors: De Trez
authors: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; VIB Structural Biology Research Center, Brussels, Belgium; Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Ghent University Global Campus, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, South Korea.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Magez
authors: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB Inflammation Research Center, Gent, Belgium.
authors: Jo A
authors: JA
authors: Van Ginderachter
authors: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB Inflammation Research Center, Gent, Belgium.
authors: Geert
authors: G
authors: Raes
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Bucala
authors: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB Inflammation Research Center, Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: bstijlem@vub.ac.be.
authors: Benoît
authors: B
authors: Stijlemans
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006376:Helminths / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005810:Multigene Family; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors
keywords: Homology; Immunity; Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF); Parasitology