Macrophage migration inhibitory factor deficiency enhances immune response to Nippostrongylus brasiliensis

作者：Damle S R; Martin R K; Cross J V; Conrad D H^*

来源：Mucosal Immunology, 2017, 10(1): 205-214.

DOI：10.1038/mi.2016.29

Infections with helminth parasites are endemic in the developing world and are a target for intervention with new therapies. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a cytokine with pleiotropic effects in inflammation and immune responses. We investigated the role of MIF in a naturally cleared model of helminth infection in rodents, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. At day 7 postinfection, MIF-deficient (MIF (-/-)) mice had reduced parasite burden and mounted an enhanced type 2 immune response (Th2), including increased Gata3 expression and interleukin-13 (IL-13) production in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). Bone marrow reconstitution demonstrated that MIF produced from hematopoietic cells was crucial and Rag1 (-/-) reconstitution provided direct evidence that MIF (-/-) CD4(+) Tcells were responsible for the augmented parasite clearance. MIF (-/-) CD4(+) T cells produced less IL-6 postinfection, which correlated with enhanced Th2 responses. MIF (-/-) CD4(+) Tcells exhibited lower nuclear factor-kappa B activation, potentially explaining the reduction in IL-6. Finally, we demonstrated enhanced clearance of the parasite and Th2 response in wild-type mice treated with the MIF tautomerase inhibitor, sulforaphane, a compound found naturally found in cruciferous vegetables. These results are the first to describe the importance of the tautomerase enzyme activity in MIF function in N. brasiliensis infection.

• 出版日期2017-1