Rhabdomyosarcoma frequently infiltrates bone marrow and this process involves the stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)-CXCR4 axis. Because leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), like SDF-1, is secreted by bone marrow stroma and directs the regeneration of skeletal muscles, we examined whether the LIF-LIF receptor (LIF-R) axis affects the biology of rhabdomyosarcoma cells. We found that in rhabdomyosarco...

This study examined the relationship between a plasma factor (or factors) that inhibits the release of thromboxane A2 from platelets and excessive salt intake in rats. The plasma factor, termed platelet inhibitory factor, was also characterized. The release of thromboxane A2 from thrombin-activated platelets was reduced in Wistar rats that were uninephrectomized and given 2% saline for a week, ...

The ability of hydrocortisone to modify antigen-mediated inhibition of macrophage migration, an in vitro correlate of cellular immunity in the guinea pig, was investigated. Only the glucocorticoids, hydrocortisone and dexamethasone, significantly blocked migration inhibitory factor (MIF) activity in pharmacologic concentrations. Hydrocortisone had no effect on antigen "processing" by macrophage...

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a cytokine that plays a central role in immune and inflammatory responses. In the present paper, we discussed the participation of MIF in the immune response to protozoan parasite infections. As a general trend, MIF participates in the control of parasite burden at the expense of promoting tissue damage due to increased inflammation.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a secreted cytokine, plays an important role in a wide array of biological processes including inducing differentiation of leukemia cell, inflammatory response, neuronal development, embryonic implantation, stem cell self-renewal and cancer progression, etc. LIF exerts its biological functions mainly through the activation and regulation of JAK/STAT3, AKT, EKR1...

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a cytokine which also exhibits enzymatic properties like oxidoreductase and tautomerase. MIF plays a pivotal role in innate and acquired immunity as well as in the neuroendocrine axis. Since it is involved in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic inflammation, neoangiogenesis, and cancer, MIF and its signaling components are considered suitable ta...

The cell-mediated immune (CMI) response as measured by a direct assay of leukocyte migration inhibition factor (LMIF) was determined in a population of patients with recurrent herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in the quiescent stage as well as in healthy volunteers. The migration of leukocytes incubated in the presence of HSV antigens was compared to that without viral antigens for the calc...

Embryo implantation requires both an activated blastocyst and a receptive endometrium. The human endometrium undergoes extensive remodeling in each menstrual cycle to prepare the endometrium for implantation, should conception occur in that cycle. For most of the cycle, the endometrium is retained in a non-receptive or refractory state and it will support implantation of the blastocyst for only...

The solution structure of a murine-human chimera of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a 180-residue cytokine with a molecular mass of 20 kDa, has been determined using multidimensional heteronuclear NMR techniques. The protein contains four alpha-helices, the relative orientations of which are well defined on the basis of long-range interhelical nuclear Overhauser effects. The helices are arran...