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Macrophage migration inhibitory factor in systemic lupus erythematosus
Andrew Foote1, Esther M Briganti, Yael Kipen
1Centre For Inflammatory Diseases, Monash University Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Victoria, Australia.
The Journal of Rheumatology
|February 5, 2004
Summary
Serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is elevated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and linked to disease damage, even after accounting for corticosteroid use.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) plays a role in immune regulation.
- Elevated MIF levels have been implicated in various autoimmune diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between serum MIF levels and disease activity, damage, and corticosteroid use in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Main Methods:
- Serum MIF concentrations were measured using ELISA in 90 female SLE patients and 279 healthy controls.
- Regression analyses were performed to assess associations between MIF, SLE disease indices, and corticosteroid dosage.
Main Results:
- Serum MIF concentrations positively correlated with SLE disease damage (SLICC/ACR index) and were higher in patients with significant damage.
- MIF levels were also positively associated with current corticosteroid dose.
- Higher MIF levels predicted future disease damage, independent of corticosteroid dose, and were negatively associated with serum creatinine.
Conclusions:
- MIF is overexpressed in SLE patients, with associations to disease damage independent of corticosteroid use.
- MIF may serve as a biomarker for lupus disease activity and progression.