AInflammatory factor (MIF) and neurodegenerative disease (MS)

MS is the most common chronic inflammatory disorder of the CNS characterized by lesions of inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is involved in several functions within both the innate and the adaptive immune systems . MIF has also been implicated in several neurological diseases including Alzheimers disease, and MS. We wanted to clarify the role of MIF in the pathogenesis of MS by determining the protein levels in the CSF of MS patients from already available patient cohorts. MIF CSF levels were measured using sandwich ELISAs in CSF from newly diagnosed treatment naïve CIS as well as RRMS and SPMS patients. MIF was instead significantly decreased in both newly diagnosed treatment naïve CIS- and RRMS patients. Treatment with dimethyl fumarate did not significantly affect MIF levels in the CSF of RRMS while mitoxantrone treatment in the SPMS showed a tendency to decrease MIF levels. MIF CSF levels were lower in CIS and RRMS patients compared to HCs and increased with disease progression. No association was found with disease activity in the RRMS or RRMS conversion in the CIS patients, suggesting that decreased MIF CNS levels reflects an underlying pathology.

Keywords:

MIF , MS , inflammatory factor , Macrophage