Improvement in major depression after low subcutaneous doses of MIF-1

In this double-blind pilot study, 20 significantly depressed patients who all met the DSM-III R criteria for major depression were given a single subcutaneous injection of either 10 mg MIF-1 (Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2) or placebo on each of 5 consecutive days. Treatments were reversed for a second week of 5 consecutive daily injections. At the end of the first week, the group receiving MIF-1 was significantly improved on all rating scales as compared with the group receiving placebo. Eight out of 9 patients receiving MIF-1 showed marked improvement (score < or = 7 on the Hamilton Scale) as compared with only 2 of 11 patients receiving saline (P < 0.01). Administration of MIF-1 during the second week to the patients who had received placebo during the first week resulted in substantial improvement so that by the end of the second week the two groups were indistinguishable.