Abstract
Allograft inflammatory factor-1 is the protein that expressed in the macrophages around the coronary arteries in rat ectopic cardiac allograft model. AIF-1 is produced mainly by macrophages and regulated by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). There are various splicing valiants in AIF-1, and the functions are different. AIF-1 has Ca-binding EF-hand motif that induces cell proliferation and migration by structural features. Besides cell proliferation and migration, AIF-1 contributes to secretion of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), insulin resistance by downregulation of GLUT4 or IRS-1, and fibrosis process by upregulation of collagen production. It has been elucidated that AIF-1 is responsible for the onset of various diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis, atherosclerotic disease, diabetes mellitus. AIF-1 may have the therapeutic potential for chronic inflammatory diseases by elucidation of the mechanism.
