Elevated Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Sera Level In Ulcerative Colitis Patients

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and is often confused with Irritable bowel Syndrome (IBS). Ulcerative colitis is treated as an autoimmune disease. A number of cytokines have been implicated in chronic inflammatory lesions of UC. It has been reported that inflammatory cytokines play important role in the development of the disease. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is important pro inflammatory cytokine and plays a critical role in regulating broad range of immune and inflammatory activities. Higher levels may be related to the pathogenesis and induction of inflammation in UC. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum concentration of MIF in patients with ulcerative colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), colon cancer and healthy control. Study was carried out in the Department of Gastroenterology, IMS, BHU, Varanasi, India. A total of 275 subjects age sex matched (59 UC, 127 IBS, 28 colon cancer and 61 Healthy controls) were enrolled for the study fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria. Blood samples were obtained after informed consent for serum separation. Enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) was performed using Bioassay Technology Laboratory kit for human macrophage migration inhibitory factor following the manufacturers protocol. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Statistical analysis was conducted by using SPSS 16.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL). MIF level in UC was found to be significantly higher (P < 0.0003) having mean SD 3.55 ± 1.3 (Z score = 3.36) when compared with healthy control having mean SD 0.89 ± 0.48 whereas in IBS patients MIF level was found to be significantly elevated (p < 0.0006) having mean SD 3.96 ± 1.39 (Z score = 3.19) when compared to healthy control and that of colon cancer was also found to be high (P < 0.00471) having mean SD 3.02 ± 1.76 (Z score = 2.59) when compared to healthy control. MIF concentration significantly elevated in UC, colon cancer and IBS in respect to control subject which may immobilize macrophages and can lead to production of several inflammatory cytokine which supports the claim that inflammation could be an effective factor in the pathogenesis of disease.