Jing-Nan Liang, Xiao Zou, Xian-Hong Fang, Jin-Dong Xu, Zhen Xiao, Jie-Ning Zhu, Hui Li, Jing Yang, Ni Zeng, Shu-Jing Yuan, Rong Pan, Yong-Heng Fu, Ming Zhang, Jian-Fang Luo, Sheng Wang, Zhi-Xin Shan
Although macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is known to have antioxidant property, the role of MIF in cardiac fibrosis has not been well understood. We found that MIF was markedly increased in angiotension II (Ang-II)-infused mouse myocardium. Myocardial function was impaired and cardiac fibrosis was aggravated in Mif-knockout (Mif-KO) mice. Functionally, overexpression of MIF and MIF protein could inhibit the expression of fibrosis-associated collagen (Col) 1a1, COL3A1 and α-SMA, and Smad3 activation in mouse cardiac fibroblasts (CFs)...
September 1, 2019: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. Molecular Basis of Disease