Nishihira J
Central Research Institute, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2000 Sep;20(9):751-62. doi: 10.1089/10799900050151012.
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) functions as a pleiotropic protein, participating in inflammatory and immune responses. MIF was originally discovered as a lymphokine involved in delayed hypersensitivity and various macrophage functions, including phagocytosis, spreading, and tumoricidal activity. Recently, MIF was reevaluated as a proinflammatory cytokine and pituitary-derived hormone potentiating endotoxemia. This protein is ubiquitously expressed in various organs, such as the brain and kidney. Among cytokines, MIF is unique in terms of its abundant expression and storage within the cytoplasm and, further, for its counteraction against glucocorticoids. MIF has unexpectedly been found to convert D-dopachrome, an enantiomer of naturally occurring L-dopachrome, to 5,6-dihydroxyindole. However, its physiologic significance remains to be elucidated. It was demonstrated that anti-MIF antibodies effectively suppress tumor growth and tumor-associated angiogenesis, suggesting that MIF is involved not only in inflammatory and immune responses but also in tumor cell growth. At present, MIF cannot be clearly categorized as either a cytokine, hormone, or enzyme. This review presents the latest findings on the role of MIF in the immune system and in cell growth, with regard to tumorigenesis and wound repair, and discusses its potential functions in various pathophysiologic states.
巨噬细胞移动抑制因子（MIF）作为一种多效性蛋白，参与炎症和免疫反应。MIF最初被发现是一种参与迟发型超敏反应和多种巨噬细胞功能（包括吞噬作用、铺展和杀肿瘤活性）的淋巴因子。最近，MIF被重新评估为一种促炎细胞因子和增强内毒素血症的垂体衍生激素。这种蛋白在各种器官（如脑和肾）中普遍表达。在细胞因子中，MIF在其在细胞质内的丰富表达和储存方面以及在其对糖皮质激素的拮抗作用方面是独特的。意外地发现MIF能将天然存在的L - 多巴色素的对映体D - 多巴色素转化为5,6 - 二羟基吲哚。然而，其生理意义仍有待阐明。已证明抗MIF抗体能有效抑制肿瘤生长和肿瘤相关血管生成，这表明MIF不仅参与炎症和免疫反应，还参与肿瘤细胞生长。目前，MIF不能被明确归类为细胞因子、激素或酶。本综述介绍了关于MIF在免疫系统和细胞生长中在肿瘤发生和伤口修复方面作用的最新发现，并讨论了其在各种病理生理状态下的潜在功能。
