New Insights into the Role and Mechanism of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Epinephelus awoara Infected with Vibrio alginolyticus

Abstract

Background: The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is involved in inflammatory diseases. The objective of the present study was to measure the expression levels of MIF in the tissues of Epinephelus awoara (E. awoara). mRNA levels of MIF were investigated in the tissues including spleen, liver, brain, head kidney, stomach, gill, heart, intestine and muscle of E. awoara. Methods: In the experiment, E. awoara were infected with V. alginolyticus and then they were analyzed by ELISA to confirm the mRNA levels of MIF, TNF-α and IL-1 in the many tissues in diseased fishes were higher than those in healthy fishes. Result: The mRNA levels increased significantly in treatment groups. Likewise, E. awoara with V. alginolyticus infections showed significant increases in IL-1 and TNF-α tissues content of intestine, head kidney, liver, muscle and spleen, respectively. There was evidence that MIF stimulates the release of TNF-á and IL-1. The results have the potential to perpetuate that MIF is connected with the inflammatory process in V. alginolyticus infectious diseases.