Correlation between genetic susceptibility of tuberculosis and macrophage migration inhibitory factor

This paper aims to study the relationship between genetic susceptibility of tuberculosis and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and provide theoretical basis and foundation for further studies on pathogenesis and treatment of tuberculosis. Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the difference of MIF protein expression level in peripheral serum of the test subjects, and analyze the difference of MIF protein expression levels of different genotypes and alleles at -794CATT locus and -173G/C locus. The results showed that MIF protein expression level in serum of patients in the tuberculosis group was higher than that of the healthy control group (p < 0.05). The MIF protein expression level of genotype (5/5+5/6+6/6) and (7/X+8/X) at -794CATT locus of the tuberculosis group was higher than that of the healthy control group (p < 0.05), and MIF protein expression level of genotype GG and (GC+CC) at -173G/C locus of the tuberculosis group was higher than that of the healthy control group (p < 0.05). Therefore, macrophage migration inhibitory factor is an important cell factor which plays a regulating role in the immune system, as it can inhibit macrophage migration and promote the gathering, infiltration and proliferation of macrophages at inflammatory sites. Furthermore, it can secrete some cell factors which play a central role in immunological regulation.