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Lung-Derived Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor In Adult Patients With Septic Shock, And Its Role In Cardiocirculatory Depression, Hans Lee, Kaie Ojamaa, Greg Ruskin, Erfan Hussain, Maowen Hu, Xinchun Lin, Christine Metz, Yousef Al-Abed, Edmund Mille

Department of Medicine

Migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a critical proinflammatory mediator in sepsis, has a profound affect on cardiovascular function. Our animal studies show that the lungs release MIF into the systemic circulation during late sepsis. MIF released in this way has direct and immediate access to cardiac cells. The purpose of our study was to assess the lung as a source of MIF in human septic shock patients and to further study the MIF-associated pathways involved in cardiovascular depression.