Intestinal tissues (duodenum) from wild-type (BALB/c) and MIF deficient mice were compared in the steady state and at two different time points (day 3 and day 7) following infection with the gastrointestinal helminth parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus

We have found that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is essential for the development of effective immunity to the intestinal helminth Heligmosomoides polygyrus, even following vaccination which induces sterile immunity in wild-type mice. In the context of a Type 2 infection, MIF plays a critical role in polarizing macrophages into the protective alternatively-activated phenotype, and that STAT3 signaling may make a previously unrecognized contribution to immunity to helminths. Intestinal tissues (duodenum) from wild-type (BALB/c) and MIF deficient mice were compared in the steady state and at two different time points (day 3 and day 7) following infection with the gastrointestinal helminth parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus.