Macrophage migration inhibitory factor plays a permissive role in the maintenance of cardiac contractile function under starvation through regulation of autophagy.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

The cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) protects the heart through AMPK activation. Autophagy, a conserved pathway for bulk degradation of intracellular proteins and organelles, helps preserve and recycle energy and nutrients for cells to survive under starvation. This study was designed to examine the role of MIF in cardiac homeostasis and autophagy regulation following an acute starvation challenge.

Methods and results

Wild-type (WT) and MIF knockout mice were starved for 48 h. Echocardiographic data revealed little effect of starvation on cardiac geometry, contractile and intracellular Ca²⁺ properties. MIF deficiency unmasked an increase in left ventricular end-systolic diameter, a drop in fractional shortening associated with cardiomyocyte contract

SUBMITTER: Xu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3732061 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature