Macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels in the vitreous of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy

AIMS: To assess the potential role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS: MIF levels were assayed in the vitreous and paired serum samples of 73 consecutive patients with PDR (32 eyes) and macular hole or idiopathic epiretinal membrane (controls, 41 eyes). An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique was used to determine the concentrations of MIF. RESULTS: The median vitreous level of MIF was 11.93 ng/ml (range 4.16-103.85) in the patients with PDR, and 1.79 ng/ml (undetectable-8.93) in the controls. Vitreous levels in eyes with PDR were significantly greater than those in the controls (p<0.0001). Vitreous levels were significantly higher than serum levels in eyes with PDR (p=0.0026). MIF levels were significantly higher in the vitreous of PDR patients with severe fibrous proliferation than in those with slight proliferation (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results indicate increased levels of MIF in the vitreous of patients with PDR and a significant association between MIF levels and grades of fibrous proliferation, suggesting the possibility that MIF may play a part in the development of the proliferative phase of PDR.