Thromb Haemost 2013; 109(03): 391-398
DOI: 10.1160/TH12-11-0831
Theme Issue Article
Schattauer GmbH

The vascular biology of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)

Expression and effects in inflammation, atherogenesis and angiogenesis
Yaw Asare
1   Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
,
Martin Schmitt
2   Institute of Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
3   Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, The Netherlands
,
Jürgen Bernhagen
1   Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
› Institutsangaben
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Publikationsverlauf

Received: 18. November 2012

Accepted after minor revision: 03. Januar 2012

Publikationsdatum:
29. November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine with chemokine-like functions. MIF is a critical mediator of the host immune and inflammatory response. Dysregulated MIF expression has been demonstrated to contribute to various acute and chronic inflammatory conditions as well as cancer development. More recently, MIF has been identified as an important pro-atherogenic factor. Its blockade could even aid plaque regression in advanced atherosclerosis. Promotion of atherogenic leukocyte recruitment processes has been recognised as a major underlying mechanism of MIF in vascular pathology. However, MIF’s role in vascular biology is not limited to immune cell recruitment as recent evidence also points to a role for this mediator in neo-angiogenesis / vasculogenesis by endothelial cell activation and endothelial progenitor cell recruitment. On the basis of introducing MIF’s chemokine-like functions, the current article focusses on MIF’s role in vascular biology and pathology.