Antigen-dependent heterogeneity of human migration inhibitory factor

Abstract

Human migration inhibitory factor (MIF) produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with purified protein derivative, tetanus toxoid, streptokinase-streptodornase, or Candida albicans antigen was analyzed by gel filtration and isoelectrofocusing. In all cases, supernatants harvested after a 24-hr exposure of the mononuclear cells to the antigen yielded only one MIF species with an isoelectric point of 5. In contrast, isoelectrofocusing of supernatants obtained from cells exposed to the antigen for an additional 24 hr demonstrated that different antigens induce the elaboration of different MIF species. Streptokinase-streptodornase and tetanus toxoid induced the production of one MIF species with an isoelectric point of 5 (pH 5-MIF). Stimulation of cells with Candida antigen elaborated a MIF species with an isoelectric point of 3 (pH 3-MIF). In contrast, stimulation of cells with purified protein derivative induced the production of both pH 3-MIF and pH 5-MIF.