Relationship of macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels in PBMCs, lesional skin and serum with disease severity and activity in vitiligo vulgaris

Abstract

Melanocyte loss in vitiligo vulgaris is believed to be an autoimmune process. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is involved in many autoimmune skin diseases. We determined the possible role of MIF in the pathogenesis of vitiligo vulgaris, and describe the relationship between MIF expressions and disease severity and activity. Serum MIF concentrations and mRNA levels in PBMCs were measured in 44 vitiligo vulgaris patients and 32 normal controls, using ELISA and real-time RT-PCR. Skin biopsies from 15 patients and 6 controls were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. Values are reported as median (25th-75th percentile). Serum MIF concentrations were significantly increased in patients [35.81 (10.98-43.66) ng/mL] compared to controls [7.69 (6.01-9.03) ng/mL]. MIF mRNA levels were significantly higher in PBMCs from patients [7.17 (3.59-8.87)] than controls [1.67 (1.23-2.42)]. There was also a significant difference in MIF mRNA levels in PBMCs between progressive and stable patients [7.86 (5.85-9.13) vs 4.33 (2.23-8.39)] and in serum MIF concentrations [40.47 (27.71-46.79) vs 26.80 (10.55-36.07) ng/mL]. In addition, the vitiligo area severity index scores of patients correlated positively with changes of both serum MIF concentrations (r = 0.488) and MIF mRNA levels in PBMCs (r = 0.426). MIF mRNA levels were significantly higher in lesional than in normal skin [2.43 (2.13-7.59) vs 1.18 (0.94-1.83)] and in patients in the progressive stage than in the stable stage [7.52 (2.43-8.84) vs 2.13 (1.98-2.64)]. These correlations suggest that MIF participates in the pathogenesis of vitiligo vulgaris and may be useful as an index of disease severity and activity.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor as an incriminating agent in vitiligo

“…In the same context, current results revealed significantly highly elevated MIF mRNA concentrations in vitiligo patients compared to volunteers, as proved, by Ma et al 10 In line with the study of Ma et al, we also reported significant high values of MIF mRNA in generalized than in localized vitiligo, and significant positive correlation between evaluated MIF mRNA and VASI score in our cases. However, the significant positive correlation between estimated MIF mRNA levels and the duration of vitiligo in our study was not reported till now.…”

“…In the current study, we reported that in most patients with vitiligo vulgaris, MIF serum concentrations were significantly highly elevated than in control subjects, in agreement with that of Serarslan et al 12 and Ma et al 10 Within the vitiligo group, this elevated MIF serum level showed significantly positive correlation with the assessed VASI score, denoting that severe form of vitiligo is associated with high values of serum MIF. Also, estimated MIF serum levels were significantly higher in generalized than in localized vitiligo, and in long standing cases than in those of short duration of the disease.…”

“…The reported significantly positive correlations between serum MIF levels and both type and severity of vitiligo confirm the result revealed by Ma et al 10 Although Serarslan et al agree with us regarding correlations between serum MIF levels and disease duration and type of vitiligo, they reported no association between severity of vitiligo and serum MIF levels. 12 Some differences do exist in the measurement of vitiligo lesions by different evaluators and, compared with BSA scores, VASI scores include both lesional skin and the degree of depigmentation, which may be the reason for the difference between our results and those reported by Serarslan et al .…”

“…Thus, to some extent, it is possible that the MIF and macrophage loop may contribute to the pathogenesis of vitiligo. 10 …”

Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Interacting with Th17 Cells May Be Involved in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Damage in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

“…Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is originally discovered as a lymphokine relevant to delayed-type hypersensitivity, which inhibits the random migration of macrophages and concentrates macrophages at inflammatory lesions as well [ 8 ]. As a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine, MIF is demonstrated to participate in innate and adaptive immune responses and is known to be implicated in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [ 9 ], rheumatoid arthritis [ 10 ], and vitiligo vulgaris [ 11 ]. Additionally, MIF gene polymorphisms (rs755622 SNP) have been shown in association with the severity of goiter in patients with untreated Graves' disease (GD), which is another common AITD [ 12 ].…”