scholarly journals Up-Regulation of Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression and Prostaglandin E2 Production in Human Endometriotic Cells by Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor: Involvement of Novel Kinase Signaling Pathways

Endocrinology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 150 (7) ◽  
pp. 3128-3137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cédric Carli ◽  
Christine N. Metz ◽  
Yousef Al-Abed ◽  
Paul H. Naccache ◽  
Ali Akoum

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the metabolic conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins (PGs), including prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a major mediator of inflammation and angiogenesis. Herein, we report that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a potent proinflammatory and growth-promoting factor found at elevated concentrations in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis and active endometriosis lesions, acts directly on ectopic endometrial cells to stimulate the synthesis of COX-2, the inducible form of COX, and the release of PGE2. MIF treatment strongly activated p38 and ERK MAPK, and specific inhibitors of both pathways completely blocked basal and MIF-induced PGE2 synthesis. Whereas p38 inhibitors negatively affected the stimulated synthesis of COX-2 and that of PGE2, ERK inhibitors only decreased the production of PGE2. These findings show for the first time a direct role for MIF in the up-regulation of COX-2 synthesis and PGE2 secretion in ectopic endometrial cells. They further indicate that whereas p38 and ERK MAPK signaling pathways both play a significant role in the regulation of basal and MIF-induced synthesis of PGE2 by ectopic endometrial cells, only p38 kinase is involved in the regulation of COX-2 expression in these cells. This suggests that MIF acts at more than one level to stimulate the synthesis of PGE2 and triggers the coordinate activation of multiple enzymes in the biosynthesis pathway. Our data provide evidence for a novel mechanism by which MIF can induce a proinflammatory phenotype in ectopic endometrial cells, and favor the establishment of endometriosis and its related clinical symptoms.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongjian Wen ◽  
Wenhao Cai ◽  
Jingyu Yang ◽  
Xianghui Fu ◽  
Lohitha Putha ◽  
...  

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammation and cancer. It is produced by various cells and circulating MIF has been identified as a biomarker for a range of diseases. Extracellular MIF mainly binds to the cluster of differentiation 74 (CD74)/CD44 to activate downstream signaling pathways. These in turn activate immune responses, enhance inflammation and can promote cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Extracellular MIF also binds to the C-X-C chemokine receptors cooperating with or without CD74 to activate chemokine response. Intracellular MIF is involved in Toll-like receptor and inflammasome-mediated inflammatory response. Pharmacological inhibition of MIF has been shown to hold great promise in treating inflammatory diseases and cancer, including small molecule MIF inhibitors targeting the tautomerase active site of MIF and antibodies that neutralize MIF. In the current review, we discuss the role of MIF signaling pathways in inflammation and cancer and summarize the recent advances of the role of MIF in experimental and clinical exocrine pancreatic diseases. We expect to provide insights into clinical translation of MIF antagonism as a strategy for treating acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.


2010 ◽  
Vol 95 (12) ◽  
pp. E403-E412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique Veillat ◽  
Cédric Carli ◽  
Christine N. Metz ◽  
Yousef Al-Abed ◽  
Paul H. Naccache ◽  
...  

Context: An active angiogenesis is required for ectopic endometrial tissue growth. Our previous studies led to the identification of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), which is markedly elevated in active, vascularized, and early-stage endometriotic lesions, as a potent mitogenic factor for endothelial cells. Objective: Our objective was to study the mechanisms by which MIF may stimulate angiogenesis in ectopic endometrial implantation sites. Design: Primary cultures of ectopic endometrial cells were exposed to MIF, and the release of major angiogenic factors with targeted disruption of MIF signaling pathways was assessed. Patients: Patients were women found to have endometriosis during laparoscopy. Setting: The study was conducted at a hospital and reproduction research laboratory. Interventions: Biopsies were removed from endometriotic lesions. Main Outcome Measures: Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), IL-8, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA and protein levels and expression and small interfering RNA silencing of MIF CD74/CD44 receptor complex and phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAPKs were evaluated. Results: MIF markedly up-regulated VEGF, IL-8, and MCP-1 expression in endometriotic cells. Such an effect was abolished by (S,R)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazole acetic acid methyl ester (ISO-1), a specific inhibitor of MIF, and significantly down-regulated after specific small interfering RNA silencing of CD44 or CD74. MIF treatment strongly activated ERK and p38 MAPKs, and specific inhibitors of both pathways completely blocked basal and MIF-induced VEGF, IL-8, and MCP-1 synthesis. Conclusions: These results show for the first time that MIF exerts a potent indirect angiogenic effect by interacting with ectopic endometrial cells and inducing the secretion of major angiogenic factors via CD44, CD74, and MAPK signaling pathways and provide evidence for a possible new mechanism underlying endometriosis development and pathophysiology.


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