D-dopachrome tautomerase (D-DT or MIF-2): doubling the MIF cytokine family.

ABSTRACT: D-dopachrome tautomerase (D-DT) is a newly described cytokine and a member of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) protein superfamily. MIF is a broadly expressed pro-inflammatory cytokine that regulates both the innate and the adaptive immune response. MIF activates the MAP kinase cascade, modulates cell migration, and counter-acts the immunosuppressive effects of glucocorticoids. For many cell types, MIF also acts as an important survival or anti-apoptotic factor. Circulating MIF levels are elevated in the serum in different infectious and autoimmune diseases, and neutralization of the MIF protein via antibodies or small molecule antagonists improves the outcome in numerous animal models of human disease. Recently, a detailed investigation of the biological role of the closel

SUBMITTER: Merk M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3367028 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature