Involvement of the Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) in Lipedema

Resource type
Authors/contributors
Title
Involvement of the Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) in Lipedema
Abstract
Lipedema is a chronic disorder that mainly affects women. It is often misdiagnosed, and its etiology remains unknown. Recent research indicates an accumulation of macrophages and a shift in macrophage polarization in lipedema. One known protein superfamily that contributes to macrophage accumulation and polarization is the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) family. MIF-1 and MIF-2 are ubiquitously expressed and also regulate inflammatory processes in adipose tissue. In this study, the expression of MIF-1, MIF-2 and CD74—a common receptor for both cytokines—was analyzed in tissue samples of 11 lipedema and 11 BMI-matched, age-matched and anatomically matched control patients using qPCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The mRNA expression of MIF-1 (mean 1.256; SD 0.303; p = 0.0485) and CD74 (mean 1.514; SD 0.397; p = 0.0097) were significantly elevated in lipedema patients, while MIF-2 expression was unaffected (mean 1.004; SD 0.358; p = 0.9718). The IHC analysis corroborated the results for CD74 expression on a cellular level. In conclusion, our results provide first evidence for a potential involvement of the MIF family, presumably via the MIF-1-CD74 axis, in lipedema.
Publication
Metabolites
Volume
13
Issue
10
Pages
1105
Date
2023/10
Language
en
ISSN
2218-1989
Accessed
10/26/23, 12:31 PM
Library Catalog
Extra
Number: 10 Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Lipedema Foundation Award
27A
Citation
Vasella, M., Wolf, S., Francis, E. C., Grieb, G., Pfister, P., Reid, G., Bernhagen, J., Lindenblatt, N., Gousopoulos, E., & Kim, B.-S. (2023). Involvement of the Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) in Lipedema. Metabolites, 13(10), 1105. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13101105
Publication