MIF contribution to progressive brain diseases

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the mouse hippocampus promotes neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction following anesthesia and surgery

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common complication after anesthesia and surgery, particularly in elderly individuals. Although progress has been made in understanding its causes, the modulatory mechanism of neuroinflammation in POCD is still not fully understood. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been demonstrated to be crucial in neuroinflammation and neuronal damage, but its role in POCD remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of MIF in neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment following anesthesia and surgery. We revealed that there is a notable cognitive deficit in mice following anesthesia and surgery, accompanied by exacerbated neuroinflammation. Which was marked by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the activation of microglia and astrocytes in mice hippocampus. Notably, there was a pronounced upregulation of MIF expression in the serum and hippocampus, particularly within neurons and microglia, following anesthesia and surgery. MIF deficiency improved cognitive impairment and inhibited neuroinflammation, as well as decreasing release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reducing activation of microglia and astrocytes, and performing the preservation of dendritic spine structure and neuronal integrity. This finding implies that MIF plays a crucial role in mediating neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction following anesthesia and surgery, and targeting MIF-mediated neuroinflammation may offer a novel strategy to POCD.

The distinct functions of MIF in inflammatory cardiomyopathy

The immune system plays a crucial role in cardiac homeostasis and disease, and the innate and adaptive immune systems can be beneficial or detrimental in cardiac injury. The pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is involved in the pathogenesis of many human disease conditions, including heart diseases and inflammatory cardiomyopathies. Inflammatory cardiomyopathies are frequently observed after microbial infection but can also be caused by systemic immune-mediated diseases, drugs, and toxic substances. Immune cells and MIF are implicated in many of these conditions and may affect progression of inflammatory cardiomyopathy (ICM) to myocardial remodeling and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The potential for targeting MIF therapeutically in patients with inflammatory diseases is an active area of investigation. Here we review the current literature supporting the role(s) of MIF in ICM and cardiac dysfunction. We posit that future research to further elucidate the underlying functions of MIF in cardiac pathologies is warranted.

Distinct roles of MIF in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease

The role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) as a multifunctional cytokine in immunomodulation and inflammatory response is increasingly appreciated. Ischemic heart disease (IHD), the leading cause of global mortality, remains a focal point of research owing to its intricate pathophysiology. MIF has been identified as a critical player in IHD, where it exerts distinct roles. On one hand, MIF plays a protective role by enhancing energy metabolism through activation of AMPK, resisting oxidative stress, inhibiting activation of the JNK pathway, and maintaining intracellular calcium ion homeostasis. Additionally, MIF exerts protective effects through mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes. On the other hand, MIF can assume a pro-inflammatory role, which contributes to the exacerbation of IHD's development and progression. Furthermore, MIF levels significantly increase in IHD patients, and its genetic polymorphisms are positively correlated with prevalence and severity. These findings position MIF as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in the management of IHD. This review summarizes the structure, source, signaling pathways and biological functions of MIF and focuses on its roles and clinical characteristics in IHD. The genetic variants of MIF associated with IHD is also discussed, providing more understandings of its complex interplay in the disease's pathology.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor facilitates replication of Senecavirus A by enhancing the glycolysis via hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha

Senecavirus A (SVA) induced porcine idiopathic vesicular disease (PIVD) has been spread worldwide due to persistent infection, causing economic losses in swine industry. Host factors play an important role in replication of SVA, while, the interaction of migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and the virus has not been verified. Here, MIF facilitates the replication of SVA by enhancing the glycolysis via hypoxia-inducible factor alpha (HIF-1α) was reported. SVA infection up-regulates the expression of MIF in 3D4/21 cells, and infection experiment of cells with overexpression and interference expression of MIF showed that MIF facilitates the replication of SVA. MIF promoted the glycolysis in SVA infection to facilitate its replication by enhancing the accumulation of lactate and decreasing the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and inhibiting the expression of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I), mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS), interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), interferon-beta (IFN-β), IFN-α, interferon-stimulating gene 15 (ISG15), and ISG56. Meanwhile, specific inhibitor verified MIF facilitates the replication of SVA by enhancing glycolysis. Further results showed MIF induces the increased expression of HIF-1α, which enhances MIF-induced glycolysis. These results provide new data on host factors in replication of SVA, as well as better understanding the role of MIF in virus infection.

Parthanatos: Mechanisms, modulation, and therapeutic prospects in neurodegenerative disease and stroke

Parthanatos is a cell death signaling pathway that has emerged as a compelling target for pharmaceutical intervention. It plays a pivotal role in the neuron loss and neuroinflammation that occurs in Parkinson's Disease (PD), Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Huntington's Disease (HD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and stroke. There are currently no treatments available to humans to prevent cell death in any of these diseases. This review provides an in-depth examination of the current understanding of the Parthanatos mechanism, with a particular focus on its implications in neuroinflammation and various diseases discussed herein. Furthermore, we thoroughly review potential intervention targets within the Parthanatos pathway. We dissect recent progress in inhibitory strategies, complimented by a detailed structural analysis of key Parthanatos executioners, PARP-1, AIF, and MIF, along with an assessment of their established inhibitors. We hope to introduce a new perspective on the feasibility of targeting components within the Parthanatos pathway, emphasizing its potential to bring about transformative outcomes in therapeutic interventions. By delineating therapeutic opportunities and known targets, we seek to emphasize the imperative of blocking Parthanatos as a precursor to developing disease-modifying treatments. This comprehensive exploration aims to catalyze a paradigm shift in our understanding of potential neurodegenerative disease therapeutics, advocating for the pursuit of effective interventions centered around Parthanatos inhibition.

WISP1 and Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Respiratory Inflammation: Novel Insights and Therapeutic Potentials for Asthma and COPD

Recent advancements highlight the intricate interplay between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and immune responses, notably in respiratory diseases such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The ECM, a dynamic structural framework within tissues, orches-trates a plethora of cellular processes, including immune cell behavior and tissue repair mecha-nisms. WNT1-inducible-signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1), a key ECM regulator, controls immune cell behavior, cytokine production, and tissue repair by modulating integrins, PI3K, Akt, β-catenin, and mTOR signaling pathways. WISP1 also induces macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) expression via Src kinases and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation. MIF, through its wide range of activities, enhances inflammation and tissue restructuring. Rec-ognized for its versatile roles in regulating the immune system, MIF interacts with multiple immune components, such as the NLRP3 inflammasome, thereby sustaining inflammatory pro-cesses. The WISP1-MIF axis potentially unveils complex molecular mechanisms governing im-mune responses and inflammation. Understanding the intricate roles of WISP1 and MIF in the pathogenesis of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD could lead to the identi-fication of novel targets for therapeutic intervention to alleviate disease severity and enhance patient outcomes.

Macrophage migration inhibitor factor (MIF): Potential role in cognitive impairment disorders

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a cytokine in the immune system, participated in both innate and adaptive immune responses. Except from immune cells, MIF is also secreted by a variety of non-immune cells, including hematopoietic cells, endothelial cells (ECs), and neurons. MIF plays a crucial role in various diseases, such as sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute kidney injury, and neurodegenerative diseases. The role of MIF in the neuropathogenesis of cognitive impairment disorders is emphasized, as it recruits multiple inflammatory mediators, leading to activating microglia or astrocyte-derived neuroinflammation. Furthermore, it contributes to the cell death of neurons and ECs with the binding of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) through parthanatos-associated apoptosis-inducing factor nuclease (PAAN) / MIF pathway. This review comprehensively delves into the relationship between MIF and the neuropathogenesis of cognitive impairment disorders, providing a series of emerging MIF-targeted pharmaceuticals as potential treatments for cognitive impairment disorders.

MIF and CD74 as Emerging Biomarkers for Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy is used to treat a wide range of cancers; however, some patients are at risk of developing treatment resistance and/or immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Thus, there is a great need for the identification of reliable predictive biomarkers for response and toxicity. The cytokine MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor) and its cognate receptor CD74 are intimately connected with cancer progression and have previously been proposed as prognostic biomarkers for patient outcome in various cancers, including solid tumors such as malignant melanoma. Here, we assess their potential as predictive biomarkers for response to ICB therapy and irAE development. We provide a brief overview of their function and roles in the context of cancer and autoimmune disease. We also review the evidence showing that MIF and CD74 may be of use as predictive biomarkers of patient response to ICB therapy and irAE development. We also highlight that careful consideration is required when assessing the potential of serum MIF levels as a biomarker due to its reported circadian expression in human plasma. Finally, we suggest future directions for the establishment of MIF and CD74 as predictive biomarkers for ICB therapy and irAE development to guide further research in this field.