Duodenal tissues and mesenteric lymph nodes from wild-type (BALB/c) and MIF deficient mice were compared in the steady state and at day 5 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. Tissues from two different sites (duodenum in small intestine, and mesenteric lymph nodes) from wild-type (BALB/c) and MIF deficient mice were compared in the steady state and at day 5 following infection with the gastrointestinal helminth parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus. Samples were named using a three letter scheme; firstly, B or M to indicate Balb/c or MIF-KO, U or I for naive or infected, and D or M for duodenal gut tissue or mesenteric lymph nodes. Numbers following the three letters are internal identifiers of replicates.