Upregulation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene expression in stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE MIF has been implicated to function in many inflammatory processes. This study examined whether MIF expression was affected in stroke and its underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS ELISA and qRT-PCR were used to detect MIF protein and mRNA in PBMCs from stroke patients, the ischemic rat brains, and controls. A MIF promoter assay under hypoxia was performed. RESULTS MIF protein and mRNA were significantly increased in stroke patients. Increasing levels of MIF were correlated to the severity of stroke and peaked 24 hours after stroke. MIF was significantly upregulated in focal ischemic rat brains. The activity of the human MIF promoter was significantly increased under hypoxia compared to normoxia. CONCLUSIONS MIF gene expression is upregulated after stroke, and hypoxia signaling plays an important role in upregulation of MIF expression under stroke.