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Extended report
Expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in diffuse systemic sclerosis
  1. E Selvi1,
  2. S A Tripodi2,
  3. M Catenaccio1,
  4. S Lorenzini1,
  5. D Chindamo1,
  6. S Manganelli1,
  7. R Romagnoli3,
  8. F Ietta3,
  9. L Paulesu3,
  10. C Miracco2,
  11. M Cintorino2,
  12. R Marcolongo1
  1. 1Institute of Rheumatology, University of Siena, Italy
  2. 2Institute of Pathological Anatomy and Histology, University of Siena, Italy
  3. 3Department of Physiology, University of Siena, Italy
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr E Selvi, Institute of Rheumatology, University of Siena, Viale Bracci, I-53100 Siena, Italy;
    eselvi{at}katamail.com

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether, in patients with the diffuse form of systemic sclerosis (dSSc), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) production is dysregulated.

Methods: 10 patients with dSSc and 10 healthy controls, matched for age and sex, were studied. MIF expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry on formalin fixed skin biopsies of patients with dSSc and controls. MIF levels were assayed in the sera and in the supernatants of skin cultured fibroblasts by a colorimetric sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MIF concentrations in culture medium samples and in serum samples were compared by Student’s two tailed t test for unpaired data.

Results: Anti-MIF antibody immunostained the basal and mainly suprabasal keratinocytes. Small perivascular clusters of infiltrating mononuclear cells were positive; scattered spindle fibroblast-like cells were immunostained in superficial and deep dermal layers. The serum concentrations of MIF in patients with dSSc (mean (SD) 10705.6 (9311) pg/ml) were significantly higher than in controls (2157.5 (1288.6) pg/ml; p=0.011); MIF levels from dSSc fibroblast cultures (mean (SD) 1.74 (0.16) ng/2×105 cells) were also significantly higher than in controls (0.6 (0.2) ng/2×105 cells; p=0.008).

Conclusion: These results suggest that MIF may be involved in the amplifying proinflammatory loop leading to scleroderma tissue remodelling.

  • macrophage migration inhibitory factor
  • systemic sclerosis
  • fibroblasts
  • skin
  • BSA, bovine serum albumin
  • DMEM, Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium
  • dSSc, diffuse systemic sclerosis
  • ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
  • FCS, fetal calf serum
  • IL, interleukin
  • MIF, migration inhibitory factor
  • PBS, phosphate buffered saline
  • SSc, systemic sclerosis
  • TBS, Tris buffered saline
  • TNFα, tumour necrosis factor α

https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.62.5.460

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