Cytokine & growth factor reviews
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Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. · Feb 2013
ReviewMIF, CD74 and other partners in kidney disease: tales of a promiscuous couple.
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is increased in kidney and urine during kidney disease. MIF binds to and activates CD74 and chemokine receptors CXCR2 and CXCR4. CD74 is a protein trafficking regulator and a cell membrane receptor for MIF, D-dopachrome tautomerase (D-DT/MIF-2) and bacterial proteins. ⋯ MIF or CXCR2 targeting protects from experimental kidney injury, CD44 deficiency modulates kidney injury and CXCR4 activation promotes glomerular injury. However, the contribution of MIF or MIF-2 to these actions of MIF receptors has not been explored. The safety and efficacy of strategies targeting MIF, CD74, CD44 and CXCR4 are under study in humans.