Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory molecule involved in cell-mediated immunity and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH). We inhibited systemic and local MIF production to determine its contribution to acute rejection (AR). Skin DTH response and acute rejection of skin and kidney allografts were examined using MIF gene knockout (MIF -/-) and wild-type mice (MIF +/+) with anti-MIF or control antibody. MIF-Ab reduced skin DTH by 60% (p < 0.01), but absence of the MIF gene (MIF -/-) had no effect. Local absence of MIF had no effect on the survival of skin grafted onto BALB/c recipients. Similarly MIF +/+ and MIF -/- kidneys transplanted into BALB/c recipients showed a similar degree of histological rejection, graft dysfunction and cellular infiltrate suggesting that AR is not dependent on local MIF production. To investigate the influence of systemic MIF, BALB/c donor skin was grafted onto MIF +/+ and MIF -/- mice. The tempo of AR was not altered by systemic absence of MIF (MIF-Ab or MIF -/-). BALB/c kidneys transplanted into MIF +/+ (with or without MIF-Ab) and MIF -/- mice showed similar parameters of rejection. MIF blockade reduces the DTH response; however, neither local nor systemic MIF are required for the rejection of fully mismatched skin and renal allografts.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	allograft rejection
Research Division:	Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Research Group:	Clinical sciences
Research Field:	Nephrology and urology
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical health
Objective Field:	Clinical health not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Jose, MD (Professor Matthew Jose)
ID Code:	90572
Year Published:	2003
Web of Science® Times Cited:	17
Deposited By:	Medicine
Deposited On:	2014-04-10
Last Modified:	2014-11-06
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