Rediscovering MIF: New Tricks for an Old Cytokine

Publication Date

2019

Journal Title

Trends Immunol

Abstract

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd Produced by many cell types, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine with critical and supporting roles in many disease states and conditions. Its disease associations, myriad functions, receptors, and downstream signaling have been the subject of considerable research, yet many questions remain. Moreover, the relevance of MIF's partially functionally redundant family member, D-dopachrome tautomerase (D-DT), also remains to be further characterized. Here, we discuss recent discoveries demonstrating direct roles of MIF in supporting NLR Family Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 (NRLP3) inflammasome activation, as well as acting as a molecular chaperone for intracellular proteins. These findings may offer new clues to understanding MIF's multiple functions, and assist the development of putative MIF-targeting therapeutics for a variety of pathologies.

Volume Number

40

Issue Number

5

Pages

447 - 462

Document Type

Article

Status

Faculty, Northwell Researcher

Facility

School of Medicine; Northwell Health

Primary Department

Molecular Medicine

Additional Departments

General Internal Medicine

PMID

30962001

DOI

10.1016/j.it.2019.03.002

For the public and Northwell Health campuses

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