Macrophage migration inhibitory factor, infection, the brain, and corticosteroids

doi:10.1186/cc7970

Critical Care

Volume 13
Issue 4

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Commentary

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor, infection, the brain, and corticosteroids

Madelijn Geldhoff , Barry B Mook-Kanamori and Diederik van de Beek

Department of Neurology, Center of Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, 1100DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2009, 13:170doi:10.1186/cc7970


Published:	27 July 2009

See related research by Østergaard and Benfield, http://ccforum/content/13/3/R101

Abstract

Bacterial meningitis is a complex disorder in which injury is caused, in part, by the causative organism and, in part, by the host's own inflammatory response. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and a neuro-endocrine mediator that might play a role in pneumococcal meningitis. Here, we discuss the role of MIF in infection, the brain, and corticosteroids and conclude that experimental meningitis studies have to determine whether MIF is a potential target for adjunctive therapy in pneumococcal meningitis.