An increase in cerebrospinal fluid macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels in pediatric patients with acute neuroinflammatory diseases: A preliminary study.

BACKGROUND

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a multifaceted cytokine involved in both the innate and adaptive immune systems. The roles of MIF in neuroinflammatory diseases have been described in adults, but remain unclear in the pediatric population.

METHODS

We herein retrospectively investigated the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of MIF and 19 types of related cytokines in pediatric patients with acute neuroinflammatory diseases, i.e., bacterial meningitis (n = 6), aseptic meningitis/encephalitis (n = 8), and febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) (n = 5), and in patients with febrile seizure (n = 15).

RESULTS

CSF MIF levels were significantly higher in the three neuroinflammatory disease groups, particularly in the bacterial meningitis group, than in the febrile seizure group. CSF MIF levels were significantly higher in the bacterial meningitis group than in the FIRES group. CSF MIF levels were higher in the FIRES group than in the febrile seizure group, and this result was independent of age. CSF MIF levels correlated more strongly with interleukin-10, an M2 promoter, than with interferon-γ, an M1 promoter.

CONCLUSIONS

CSF MIF levels were elevated in pediatric patients with acute neuroinflammatory diseases. This is the first study to compare differences in CSF MIF levels among neuroinflammatory diseases and to show relationships between MIF and related cytokines.