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Associations between circulating macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) levels and rheumatoid arthritis, and

Sang-Cheol Bae1, Young Ho Lee2

  • 1Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Postgraduate Medical Journal
|September 16, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study found higher macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Genetic variations in the MIF gene are also linked to increased RA susceptibility, suggesting MIF

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Genetics
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease.
  • Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a key inflammatory cytokine implicated in RA pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review evidence on circulating MIF levels in RA patients.
  • To investigate the association between MIF gene polymorphisms and RA susceptibility.

Main Methods:

  • Meta-analysis of serum/plasma MIF levels in RA patients versus controls.
  • Meta-analysis of associations between MIF gene polymorphisms (-173 C/G and -794CATT5-8) and RA susceptibility.
  • Inclusion of twelve studies with data from 362 RA cases and 531 controls for MIF levels, and 2367 RA cases and 2395 controls for polymorphisms.

Main Results:

  • Significantly higher MIF levels were observed in RA patients compared to controls (SMD 0.923, P<0.001).
  • Elevated MIF levels in RA patients were consistent across Caucasian, Asian, and Latin American populations.
  • RA susceptibility was significantly associated with the MIF-173 C allele (OR 1.271, P<0.001), the -794CATT7 allele (OR 1.229, P=0.002), and a specific haplotype (P=0.002).

Conclusions:

  • Circulating MIF levels are significantly elevated in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Specific MIF gene polymorphisms (-173 C/G and -794CATT5-8) are associated with an increased susceptibility to developing RA.
Keywords:
MIF levelpolymorphismrheumatoid arthritis

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