Biological and clinical relevance of human macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF).

The first isolation and characterization of a lymphokine, the human MIF (MSF), and the availability of a specific MIF (MSF)-antibody provide an opportunity to establish a new parameter for detection of cellular immune mechanisms in various clinical situations. The precise estimation of quantitative amounts of MIF by sensitive immunochemical techniques could gain new insights into the pathogenesis of a number of clinical disorders. In addition, the exact detection of quantitative amounts of MIF in body fluids could have prognostic value.