Biomedical subjects

Richard Bucala

Publications and source records attributed to Richard Bucala.

75 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been proposed to be the physiologic counter-regulator of glucocorticoid action within the immune system. In this role, MIF's position within the cytokine cascade is to act in concert with glucocorticoids to control both the "set point" and the magnitude of the inflammatory response. As well as overriding the immunosuppressive effects of glucocorticoids, it is now well established that MIF has a direct proinflammatory role in inflammatory diseases, such as sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, and glomerulonephritis. The functions of MIF within the immune system are both unique and diverse, and although a unified molecular mechanism of action remains to be elucidated, there have been significant advances in our understanding of how MIF affects cellular processes. This review discusses the pathogenic role of MIF in inflammatory disease and highlights the novel structural, functional, and mechanistic properties of MIF.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) sustains macrophage proinflammatory function by inhibiting p53: regulatory role in the innate immune response.

The importance of the macrophage in innate immunity is underscored by its secretion of an array of powerful immunoregulatory and effector molecules. We report herein that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a product of activated macrophages, sustains macrophage survival and function by suppressing activation-induced, p53-dependent apoptosis. Endotoxin administration to MIF(-/-) mice results in decreased macrophage viability, decreased proinflammatory function, and increased apoptosis when compared with wild-type controls. Moreover, inhibition of p53 in endotoxin-treated, MIF-deficient macrophages suppresses enhanced apoptosis and restores proinflammatory function. MIF inhibits p53 activity in macrophages via an autocrine regulatory pathway, resulting in a decrease in cellular p53 accumulation and subsequent function. Inhibition of p53 by MIF coincides with the induction of arachidonic acid metabolism and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) expression, which is required for MIF regulation of p53. MIF's effect on macrophage viability and survival provides a previously unrecognized mechanism to explain its critical proinflammatory action in conditions such as sepsis, and suggests new approaches for the modulation of innate immune responses.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Targeting malaria with polyamines.

During the asexual cycle of Plasmodium falciparum within the host erythrocyte, the parasite induces a stage-dependent elevation in the levels of polyamines by increased metabolism and uptake of extracellular pools. Polyamine amides of N-methylanthranilic acid have been synthesized which have embedded within them putrescine, spermidine, or spermine and from a charge perspective mimic natural polyamines. The interaction of these polyamine conjugates with human erythrocytes infected with malaria is described using fluorescent microscopy. The fluorescent spermine mimic was the only probe to show measurable intracellular accumulation. This was observed in late stage development but not in the ring stages or in uninfected erythrocytes.

Animals↗