Expression of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Behçet's disease
PURPOSE: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a unique protein, participating in inflammation, immune response, and cell growth. Previous reports showed that MIF-173 G>C polymorphism or the MIF-794 [CATT]5-8 polymorphism and haplotypes containing these variants were associated with an increased risk for various inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, atopic dermatitis, Behcet's disease with uveitis, and neuro-Behcet's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To elucidate the influence of polymorphisms of MIF on Behcet's disease, 153 patients with Behcet's disease and 290 healthy controls were genotyped. We also performed RT-PCR analysis, ELISA, and immunohistochemical stain for MIF. The mRNAs of 83 Behcet's disease patients and 50 controls were used for RT-PCR. ELISA was performed for 60 Behcet's disease patients and 55 controls. Immunohistochemical stain was performed for 13 Behcet's disease patients, 2 psoriasis patient, and 6 erythema nodosum patients. RESULTS: We found no statistically significant differences in the genotype frequencies of the MIF-794[CATT]_(5-8) repeat polymorphism or MIF-173 G>C polymorphism between the Behcet's disease patients group and the control. MIF mRNA was not detected either in Behcet's disease patients nor in the control. Serum level of MIF , measured by ELISA, was decreased in Behcet's disease patients group compared to the normal control. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that MIF protein was present in skin lesions from patients with Behcet's disease and erythema nodosum. MIF protein was diffusely distributed throughout epidermis and subcutaneous fat, whereas in psoriasis patients, MIF protein was distributed only in epidermis. CONCLUSION: Contrary to previous reports, serum levels of MIF were decreased in patients with Behcet's disease and polymorphisms in the MIF promoter region was not associated with disease susceptibility. However, MIF may play a role in cutaneous inflammation in Behcet's disease.
Behcet's disease, Macrophage migration inhibitory factor, 베체트병, 대식세포, 유주저지인자
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