Description
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF or MMIF), also named as glycosylation-inhibiting factor (GIF), L-dopachrome isomerase, or phenylpyruvate tautomerase, is a protein encoded by the MIF gene. It is released from white blood cells by bacterial antigen stimulation to trigger an acute immune response, or by glucocorticoids to counter-act the inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids on immune system. MIF is a homotrimer of which each subunit contains 115 amino acids. As mentioned above, MIF is involved in the innate immune response to bacterial pathogens and counter-acts the anti-inflammatory activity of glucocorticoids. Furthermore, it also plays a role as mediator in regulating the function of macrophages in host defense and has phenylpyruvate tautomerase and dopachrome tautomerase activity in vitro. Mouse MIF is active on human cells, while human MIF is active on mouse cells. Mouse MIF is 99 %, 84 %, 90 %, and 90 % a.a. identical to rat, porcine, bovine and human MIF, respectively.