Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
A Mouse Model of Chronic Liver Fibrosis for the Study of Biliary Atresia
Published on: February 3, 2023
Elevated serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels in post-operative biliary atresia
Papit Nattee1, Sittisak Honsawek, Voranush Chongsrisawat
1Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Objective:
Biliary atresia (BA) is one of the most common causes of neonatal cholestasis. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an important mediator of inflammation and immune response in various diseases. The objective of this study was to examine the possible roles of MIF in BA.
Methods:
Forty-eight BA paediatric patients who had undergone a Kasai operation and 22 healthy children were recruited. The mean ages of the patients and controls were 8.47 +/- 0.74 and 7.64 +/- 0.41 years, respectively. The patients were categorised into two groups according to their serum levels of total bilirubin (TB) (TB < 2 mg/dL; no jaundice, and TB >/= 2 mg/dL; persistent jaundice). The serum MIF levels were determined using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
The mean serum MIF level of the BA children was higher than that of healthy controls (0.43 +/- 0.04 ng/mL [corrected] vs. 0.27 +/- 0.02 ng/mL; [corrected] p < 0.001). However, there was no difference in serum MIF levels between BA patients with jaundice and those without jaundice. Further analysis revealed that there was no difference in serum MIF levels of BA patients without portal hypertension compared to that of BA patients with portal hypertension.
Conclusion:
MIF production was elevated in BA patients compared to normal controls. It is likely that MIF plays a role in the pathophysiology of post-operative BA patients. However, the elevated MIF levels are not associated with either jaundice status or portal hypertension.
Insights
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) levels are elevated in children with biliary atresia (BA). This suggests MIF may play a role in BA pathophysiology, but it is not linked to jaundice or portal hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Neonatal Diseases
Background:
- Biliary atresia (BA) is a leading cause of neonatal cholestasis.
- Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a key mediator in inflammatory and immune responses.
- Understanding MIF's role in BA is crucial for disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential involvement of MIF in biliary atresia.
- To compare serum MIF levels in BA patients and healthy controls.
- To explore correlations between MIF levels and clinical indicators in BA.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum MIF levels.
- Study included 48 pediatric BA patients post-Kasai operation and 22 healthy children.
- BA patients were stratified by total bilirubin levels to assess jaundice status.
Main Results:
- Serum MIF levels were significantly higher in BA patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001).
- No significant difference in MIF levels was observed between jaundiced and non-jaundiced BA patients.
- MIF levels did not differ between BA patients with or without portal hypertension.
Conclusions:
- MIF production is elevated in pediatric patients with biliary atresia.
- MIF may contribute to the pathophysiology of post-operative BA.
- Elevated MIF levels in BA are not associated with jaundice or portal hypertension status.
