We therefore examined whether tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a known inducer of MIF expression by macrophages in vitro, up-regulates local and systemic MIF expression in a macrophage-mediated rat model of crescentic glomerulonephritis.
Concentrations of TNF-alpha were significantly increased compared with normal controls in the urine of patients with membranous nephropathy and with crescentic glomerulonephritis.