Macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression in male and female ethanol-fed rats

Macrophage migration inhibitory factory (MIF) regulates macrophage accumulation at sites of injury and can promote the inflammatory response. We studied MIF expression in the intragastric feeding rat model for alcoholic liver injury. Male and age-matched female rats were fed ethanol or dextrose with fish oil. Two groups of male rats were fed medium-chain triglycerides with ethanol or dextrose. Analysis of liver histopathology, lipid peroxidation, endotoxin, mRNA, and immunohistochemistry for MIF, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were carried out. Male and female rats fed fish oil and ethanol showed necroinflammatory liver injury and had the highest expression of MIF, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma in the liver. Decreased levels of MIF protein were seen in rats with higher endotoxin levels, suggesting that preformed MIF is released into the circulation. MIF is an important mediator of the inflammatory response in alcoholic liver disease and a potential therapeutic target.