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
DOI
10.1016/j.it.2019.03.002