The role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the development of obesity and altered intestinal permeability

Abstract

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a molecule expressed both by the immune cells, like T, B lymphocytes and macrophages, and non-immune cells, like adipocytes, hepatocytes and beta cells of pancreatic islets. It has actions in the innate and adaptive immunity, such as a part in regulating the interleukin-17 expression and production, but also in the development of chemically induced type 1 diabetes in mice. This paper summarizes our results on the role of MIF in the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes, done in vitro on beta cell models and murine pancreatic islets, as well as in vivo, when mice with MIF deletion (MIF-KO) and their wild type (wt) counterparts were on a high fat diet. It is considered that obesity can develop as a consequence of altered intestinal permeability, so potential leakage of the intestinal barrier is investigated in the MIF-KO and wt mice. Also, the interplay between MIF and regulatory T cells, as an important regulator of inflammation in the adipose tissue, is explored at the level of visceral adipose tissue.