Elevated Serum Levels of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) in Patients with Behcet's Disease

Kim, Sung Dong; Kim, Sang Hyon; Kim, Hae Rim; Park, Mi Kyung; Yoon, Chong Hyeon; Kim, Wan Uk; Lee, Sang Heon; Park, Sung Hwan; Cho, Chul Soo; Kim, Ho Youn

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has emerged recently as an important regulator of inflammatory and immune responses. This work was undertaken to evaluate serum levels of MIF and in vitro MIF production by whole blood cells in patients with Behcet's disease and investigate the relationship between serum levels of MIF and clinical manifestations.
METHODS
Sixty-five patients with Behcet's disease and forty-eight healthy controls were studied to evaluate serum levels of MIF. Six patients with Behcet's disease and Five healthy controls were studied for evaluating the production of MIF by whole blood cells. Serum and culture supernatant levels of MIF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The production of MIF by whole blood cells was investigated by culturing peripheral blood cells in the absence or presence of Concanavalin A (Con A).
RESULTS
Serum levels of MIF were higher in patients with Behcet's disease than in healthy controls. Serum levels of MIF were changed in each patient with Behcet's disease according to clinical disease activity (higher at active state). The MIF production by Con A-stimulated peripheral blood cell culture was higher in patients with Behcet's disease than in healthy controls.
CONCLUSION
Circulating levels of MIF are higher in patients with Behcet's disease than in healthy controls and the levels of MIF may be associated with clinical disease activity. MIF may play an important role as a mediator of inflammation in Behcet's disease and provide opportunity for the development of anti-MIF strategy for the treatment of patients with Behcet's disease.