Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) plays a pivotal role in immunity against Salmonella typhimurium

The cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) exerts a multitude of biological functions. Notably, it induces inflammation at the interface between the immune system and the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal stress axis. The role of MIF in infectious diseases is not understood completely. Here, we show that MIF-deficient (MIF(−/−)) knockout mice fail to control an infection with wild-type Salmonella typhimurium. Increased susceptibility was accompanied by a reduced Th1 response, demonstrated by decreased levels of IL-12, IFNγ, and tumor necrosis factor α. In Salmonella-infected MIF(−/−) mice, levels of IL-1β were markedly increased. Additionally, infected MIF(−/−) mice showed elevated serum levels of nitric oxide and corticosterone as compared with control mice. Our results point to MIF as a key mediator in the host response to S. typhimurium. MIF not only promotes development of a protective Th1 response but ameliorates disease by altering levels of reactive nitrogen intermediates and corticosteroid hormones, which both exert immunosuppressive functions.