Radioiodine labeled anti-MIF McAb: a potential agent for inflammation imaging

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor plays a pivotal role in hepatocellular carcinoma and may be a noninvasive imaging target

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has emerged to play a central role in the control of the host inflammatory and immune response. Several reports have documented that MIF can inactivate the tumor suppresser activity of p53; overexpression of MIF was significantly higher in both the sera and the local lesions from patients with HCC than from patients with normal controls. These findings indicate that MIF may contribute to multiple aspects of tumor progression and neoplasia, thus MIF may be an effective therapeutic target molecule. We speculate that MIF is important for the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma, and can be used as a marker for tumor detection.

Baicalin in radical scavenging and its synergistic effect with beta-carotene in antilipoxidation

The lipophilic flavonoid glycoside baicalin from the traditional oriental herb Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (logP = 1.27, pK(a1) = 7.6, pK(a2) = 10.1 as determined at 25 degrees C in 0.1 M NaCl) is found to be as reducing (0.39 V vs NHE, reversible two-electron oxidation by CV at pH 7.4) as other catechol flavonoids but a poor radical scavenger (TEAC = 1.12, pH 7.4) and a poor antioxidant against free radical initiated lipid oxidation in liposomes. However, this compound is able to regenerate beta-carotene (beta-Car) from beta-Car(*+) with a second-order rate constant of (5.6 +/- 0.5) x 10(9) L mol(-1) s(-1) in the methanol/chloroform binary solvent (1:9, v/v) and, more importantly, to exhibit a prominent synergistic effect with beta-Car against the lipoxidation induced by AMVN-derived peroxyl radical in liposomal membrane. Thus, baicalin by itself is not an effective antioxidant, but it becomes one via interaction with beta-Car. The radical scavenging and antilipoxidation properties of baicalin are discussed in terms of its physicochemical properties and molecular structures.

A prospective study of macrophage migration inhibitory factor as a marker of inflammatory detection

This study was to evaluate whether macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) can be used as a better marker of inflammatory detection through the biodistribution and inflammatory imaging study with ¹³¹I-labelled anti-MIF McAb and control antibody in inflammatory model mice. The mRNA and protein expression of MIF in inflammatory lesions were proved by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The model mice were injected with 3.7 MBq of each agent and killed at 24, 48 and 72 hrs after injection. Whole-body images were obtained with storage phosphor screen. The organs, blood, abscesses muscles were removed, weighed and counted with a γ counter. The percentage of uptake by organs and per gram tissues and abscess/normal tissue (%ID/g) concentration ratios were calculated. The abscesses in mice were well visualized from 24 hrs. The target-to-non-target (T/NT) ratios were 6.71 ± 1.09 (24 hrs), 8.57 ± 0.81 (48 hrs) and 11.41 ± 0.37 (72 hrs) for ¹³¹I-labelled anti-MIF McAb group; while in control group of ¹³¹I-IgG, T/NT ratios were 4.65 ± 0.63 (24 hrs), 6.44 ± 0.60 (48 hrs) and 8.23 ± 0.35 (72 hrs) (P < 0.05). MIF mRNA expression was threefold increased in inflammatory tissues at 24 hrs compared with normal tissues, and twofold increased at 48 hrs. MIF protein expression was stronger in the inflammatory tissues at 48 hrs after focal inflammation occurred. Our findings suggest that the ¹³¹I-labelled anti-MIF McAb appears to be more specific and suitable than ¹³¹I-labelled IgG for targeting focal inflammation, which means MIF can be used as a better marker of inflammatory detection.