Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) seems crucially involved in Guillain-Barré syndrome and experimental allergic neuritis

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory type 1 cytokine that plays a pathogenic role in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The role of this cytokine in peripheral nerve inflammatory disease has not been evaluated. Therefore, to evaluate the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and experimental allergic neuritis (EAN), we determined MIF circulating levels in a series of patients with GBS and healthy subjects with ELISA and evaluated the effect of two specific inhibitors of MIF, a neutralizing monoclonal antibody or a chemical inhibitor ISO1 on the course of murine EAN. The data show increased MIF plasma levels in GBS patients as compared to healthy controls (p < 0.0001) and a progressive increase of MIF circulating concentration with patient's disability (p < 0.0001). Both anti-MIF mAb and ISO1 favorably influenced the course of EAN. Treated mice had a lower cumulative severity score (p = 0.001) and reduced disease duration than the control mice (p < 0.03). MIF may promote immune reaction in GBS. Therapeutic effects of both anti-MIF mAb and ISO1 in EAN suggest that MIF could be a promising therapeutic target in inflammatory demyelinating peripheral nerve disorders.