Study of the relationship between human MIF level, MIF-794CATT5-8 microsatellite polymorphism, and susceptibility of tuberculosis in Southwest China.

OBJECTIVE To study the human migration inhibitory factor (MIF) level in tuberculosis (TB) patients, and the relationship between MIF-794CATT microsatellite polymorphism and susceptibility of TB in Southwest China. METHODS TB patients (n=151) and healthy unrelated controls (n=149) were recruited for this study. Genomic DNA was extracted, and then amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MIF-794CATT(5-8) microsatellite polymorphism was genotyped by DNA sequencing. MIF level was detected by ELISA. RESULTS In the TB group, the repeat number of 7/7 and 7/8 (17.89%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (8.05%), and the serum MIF level was also much higher than that of the healthy controls (705.21 ± 67.98 vs. 355.31 ± 57.29 pg/mL, p<0.01). CONCLUSION The appearance of MIF-794CATT 7/7 and 7/8 is associated with susceptibility to TB, and may play an important role in the occurrence and development of TB in Southwest China.