MIF is a key regulator of host immune responses and increased levels secreted from cells, or found circulating systemically, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.
It is suggested that MIF participates in the amplification of the proinflammatory process in SSc; moreover, the promoter polymorphisms - 794 CATT<sub>5-8</sub> (rs5844572) and - 173G>C (rs755622) in the MIF gene have been associated with an increase in MIF serum levels in several autoimmune diseases.
Two polymorphisms, rs755622 and rs5844572, in the promoter region of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) gene influence the basal and/or induced transcriptional activity and have been linked to several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
These data suggest that MIF and Th17 cells increased dynamically and positively correlated with the markers of thyroid autoimmune damage, which indicated that interaction between MIF and Th17 cells may participate in the pathogenesis and development of thyroid-specific autoimmunity in HT.
Two polymorphisms in the promoter of the MIF gene (-173G to C transition and seven copies of the -794 CATT repeat) are associated with increased MIF expression in vivo and poor prognosis in autoimmune diseases.