[Functional roles of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in anti-parasitic diseases]

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an important proinflammatory and immunoregulatory mediator, which locates at the apex of the cascade of innate immune response. It also plays an important role in regulating adaptive immune responses and counter-regulating the immunosuppressive effect of glucocorticoid. MIF is actively involved in a series of cell processes such as cell proliferation and differentiation as well as cell apoptosis. MIF is reported to regulate the host immune response to parasitic infection. Interestingly, the ortholog of mammalian MIF was identified in multiple parasites such as Plasmodium spp., Leishmania major, Brugia malayi and so on, which is actively involved in the regulation of host-pathogen interaction and therefore provides a novel immune evasion mechanism. Therefore, development of small molecular inhibitors and vaccines against MIF will pave a new avenue for the prevention and treatment of related parasitic diseases.