WITHDRAWN: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and pregnancy may impact the balance of intestinal cytokines and the development of intestinal pathology caused by Toxoplasma gondii infection

Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is a Key Player in Dry Eye Disease

PURPOSE

To explore the role of the proinflammatory cytokine, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), in a murine model of dry eye disease (DED).

METHODS

The role of MIF on DED was determined using genetically MIF deficient mice and pharmacological inhibition of MIF. DED was induced with 0.5 mg of scopolamine via subcutaneous injection in wild type (WT) and mice lacking MIF (Mif-/-), three times a day for 21 days. DED signs, tear volume, ferning pattern and cytology impression were evaluated. Also, eye tissues were collected to determine transcripts of key inflammatory mediators and histopathological damage. In a second set of experiments, we neutralized MIF with ISO-1, an isozaxiline-derivative MIF tautomerase activity-inhibiting small molecule in WT mice, following an acute DED model for 10 days. ISO-1 was given starting on day 3 after DED induction and signs were evaluated, including a recovery phase in both experimental approaches.

RESULTS

When compared to WT, Mif-/- mice showed attenuated signs of DED like preserved mucin pattern and increased tear volume. Also, Mif-/- mice maintained conjunctival epithelial cells and less corneal damage, associated with lower levels of TNFα and IL-1β. At recovery phase, Mif-/- mice presented improved signs. Interestingly, in cornea and conjunctiva the absence of MIF selectively downregulated the transcription of inflammatory enzymes like inos and nox4 whereas displayed enhanced transcripts of il-4, il-13, tgfβ and cox2. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of MIF using ISO-1, replicated the above findings in the mouse model.

CONCLUSION

MIF is a central positive mediator of the inflammatory process in experimental DED, thus, targeting MIF could be used as a novel therapy in ocular surface inflammatory pathologies.

Influence of interleukin 17 A and 17 F polymorphisms in keratoconus

BACKGROUND

Until a few years ago, keratoconus was defined as a noninflammatory degenerative disease. However, recent studies have shown that the altered balance between inflammatory cytokines, proteases, and protease inhibitors, as well as free radicals and oxidants, have a crucial role in the pathogenesis of this disease. The aim of this study is to investigate whether interleukin 17 A G197A (rs2275913) and interleukin 17 F T7488C (rs763780) polymorphisms are associated with keratoconus in patients from a population of the northwestern region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

METHODS AND RESULTS

35 patients and 61 controls were enrolled. Genotyping of interleukin 17 A G197A and interleukin 17 F T7488C polymorphisms was carried out using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Statistical analyses were conducted using the chi-square test, and an odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was also calculated to evaluate the association between polymorphisms and disease. Evaluating interleukin 17 F T7488C, we found that the TT genotype is associated as a risk factor for keratoconus (P = 0.04; OR = 3.01; CI 1.11-8.14). As for evaluating interleukin 17 A G197A, the allele and genotype frequencies between patients and controls were compared and no statistically significant differences were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data showed that the interleukin 17 F T7488C polymorphisms may exert an influence in keratoconus.