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Macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression correlates with inflammatory changes in human chronic hepatitis B infection
Author(s) -
Zhang HaiYing,
Nanji Amin A.,
Luk John M.,
Huang XiaoRu,
Lo ChungMau,
Chen Yong Xiong,
Yuen SiuTsan,
Lan Hui Y.,
Lau George K. K.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2005.01047.x
Subject(s) - macrophage migration inhibitory factor , immune system , macrophage , immunology , hepatitis , cytokine , inflammation , biology , medicine , in vitro , biochemistry
Background: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has emerged to be a pivotal cytokine in immune‐mediated diseases. Patients and methods: To investigate the role of MIF in chronic hepatitis B infection, we studied two groups of hepatitis B surface antigen positive patients: group 1 (immune tolerant, n =16) and group 2 (immune clearance, n =16). Serum level of MIF was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and intrahepatic expression of MIF, macrophage and T‐cell localisation were detected by double immunohistochemistry. Results: An increased serum MIF correlated significantly with increased serum alanine aminotransferase activity ( r =0.73, P <0.001) and the severity of necroinflammatory injury ( r =0.642, P <0.001). In group 2, there was marked MIF mRNA expression in all KP‐1 + macrophages and CD45RO + activated T cells and, to a lesser extent, in hepatocytes within inflammatory areas. In contrast to its mRNA expression, the cytoplasmic MIF protein level in hepatocytes, infiltrating macrophages and T cells within the inflammatory area was reduced, which probably contributed to the increased serum MIF level. Conclusions: Our data suggested that MIF played a role in sustaining cell‐mediated hepatic injury during the immune‐clearance phase of chronic hepatitis B infection.