Affiliations: Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesie und
operative Intensivmedizin, Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany | Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Therapy,
University Hospital Bern "Inselspital", Bern, Switzerland
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Lutz Eric Lehmann, M.D., Klinik und
Poliklinik für Anästhesie und operative Intensivmedizin,
Universität Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany. Tel.: +49 228
2871 6557; Fax: +49 228 2871 6754; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: The oxidoreductase Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is
discussed as a promising target for immunomodulatory therapy in patients with
severe sepsis. Moreover, MIF expresses tautomerase as well as thiol-protein
oxidoreductase activities and has a potential role in cellular redox
homeostasis, apoptosis inhibition, endotoxin responsiveness as well as
regulation of nuclear transcription factors. To further elucidate a potential role of intracellular MIF in severe
sepsis, we assessed alterations of intracellular MIF content in peripheral
blood leukocytes of patients with severe sepsis in comparison to healthy
controls and non-septic patients after major surgery. Intracellular MIF was
significantly elevated simultaneously in lymphocytes, B-cells, macrophages and
granulocytes of patients with severe sepsis when compared to healthy control
individuals (p < 0.05) and increased when compared to
non-septic patients after major surgery. In parallel, plasma MIF levels were
elevated in severe sepsis (p < 0.05). There was no difference
of intracellular MIF in lymphocytes, B-cells, macrophages or granulocytes
between surviving and non-surviving patients with severe sepsis
(p > 0.05). However, in survivors LPS ex vivo
stimulation increased MIF secretion but not in non-survivors of sepsis
(p < 0.05). This finding underlines the role of intracellular
MIF in inflammatory diseases. It suggests monitoring of intracellular MIF in
further clinical and non-clinical research valuable.
Keywords: MIF, FACS, intracellular detection, severe sepsis, cytokine
Journal: BioFactors, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 281-291, 2008
