Evaluation of the Effect of Anti-Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Antibody in a Mouse Model of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Preterm Delivery

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preventive effect of anti-macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) antibody on lipopolysaccharide-induced preterm delivery in mice. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective, placebo-controlled, experimental study. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered intraperitoneally to pregnant Balb/c mice to induce preterm delivery. For the first set of experiments, dams were treated intraperitoneally with anti-MIF antibody simultaneously with LPS treatment or 2 . hours before LPS injection. A second set of experiments was performed to determine the influence of anti-MIF antibody on intrauterine production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). RESULTS: The duration of gestation was significantly longer in the group of mice that received anti-MIF antibody 2 hours before LPS injection than in the group of mice that received solely LPS (p=0.004). TNF-alpha and IL-6 concentration in gestational tissues was significantly reduced in mice that received anti-MIF antibody simultaneously with LPS treatment (p=0.010 and 0.025) or 2 hours before LPS treatment (p=0.010 and 0.006) than in those that received LPS alone. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated for the first time that anti-MIF antibody can delay LPS-induced preterm delivery in mice.