Abstract
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was originally discovered as a soluble factor associated with the mechanism of delayed-type hypersensitivity. Today, MIF is widely accepted as a pluripotent cytokine involved in a broad-spectrum pathological events beyond the immune system. Following the cloning of MIF cDNA, previously unrecognized biological functions of MIF have been revealed. MIF is released as a hormone by the anterior pituitary gland in endotoxin shock, and as a proinflammatory cytokine and glucocorticoid-induced immunomodulator produced in response to a variety of inflammatory stimuli. Based on these findings, it is expected that MIF would be a novel marker which indicates septicemia. Recently, it was found that Toll-like-4 receptor could be regulated by MIF, suggesting its involvement in the innate immunity.
