Neutralization of macrophage migration inhibitory factor improves host survival after Clostridium difficile infection.

ABSTRACT: Clostridium difficile is an important cause of nosocomial diarrhea in the western world. Toxins (A, B, and binary toxins) generated by C. difficile bacteria damage intestinal epithelial cells. Hallmarks of host response to C. difficile infection (CDI) include upregulation of inflammatory mediators and tissue infiltration by immune cells. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an inflammatory cytokine that is known to enhance the host immune response to infectious pathogens. Additionally, MIF can adversely impact host survival to numerous infections. The role of MIF in the pathogenesis of CDI remains poorly understood. Here, we show that patients with CDI had significantly higher circulating MIF compared to patients who had diarrhea but tested negative for C. difficile (non-CDI con

SUBMITTER: Jose S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6309669 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature