Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran (MJIRI)

 Abstract

 Background: Despite the long-standing association of macrophage migration inhibitory

 factor (MIF) with delayed-type hypersensitivity response, the potential role

 of MIF in chronic allograft nephropathy is unknown. The association between upregulation of MIF expression, macrophage and T cell infiltration and the severity of

 chronic allograft nephropathy suggests that MIF may be an important mediator in the

 process of chronic allograft nephropathy. Therefore, the aims of this study were to

 measure urine concentration of MIF after renal transplantation, and to determine if it

 increases with time.

 Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study twenty-two pediatric patients

  (case, group A) who received kidney transplants between 1999 and 2006, and forty

 healthy children (control, group B) were recruited. Urine MIF and creatinine were

 assessed in all patients. Urine MIF concentrations were quantitated by ELISA.

 Results: The mean ratios of urine MIF/Creatinine (Cr) were calculated as

  5.046(SEM=2.04) pg/μmol creatinine in transplanted-kidney patients (group A) and

  1.85(SEM=0.35) pg/μmol creatinine in healthy individuals (group B). Agood significant

 correlation was seen between urine MIF/Cr ratio and time after kidney transplantation

 in recipients (P=0.002, rSpearman = +0.633).

 Conclusion: This study shows significant correlation between urine MIF/Cr ratio

 and time passed after transplantation. Increasing MIF/Cr ratios were seen in patients

 with a longer post transplantation period. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the

 role of macrophages in chronic renal nephropathy especially chronic rejection with

 additive studies and then study the effect of anti-MIF antibodies in the treatment of

 this condition.