Featured Publications
MIF is a common genetic determinant of COVID-19 symptomatic infection and severity
Shin JJ, Fan W, Par-Young J, Piecychna M, Leng L, Israni-Winger K, Qing H, Gu J, Zhao H, Schulz WL, Unlu S, Kuster J, Young G, Liu J, Ko AI, Garcia A, Sauler M, Wisnewski AV, Young L, Orduña A, Wang A, Klementina O, Garcia AB, Hegyi P, Armstrong ME, Mitchell P, Ordiz DB, Garami A, Kang I, Bucala R. MIF is a common genetic determinant of COVID-19 symptomatic infection and severity. QJM 2022, 116: 205-212. PMID: 36222594, PMCID: PMC9620729, DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcac234.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMacrophage migration inhibitory factorLow-expression MIF alleleCOVID-19 infectionMIF allelesCATT7 alleleHealthy controlsCOVID-19Serum macrophage migration inhibitory factorSymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infectionHigher serum MIF levelsHigh-expression MIF allelesRetrospective case-control studySARS-CoV-2 infectionFunctional polymorphismsAvailable clinical characteristicsMultinational retrospective studySerum MIF levelsUninfected healthy controlsSymptomatic COVID-19Tertiary medical centerHealthy control subjectsCase-control studyMigration inhibitory factorCoronavirus disease 2019Common functional polymorphisms
2024
Potential role of RhoA GTPase regulation in type interferon signaling in systemic lupus erythematosus
Fan W, Wei B, Chen X, Zhang Y, Xiao P, Li K, Zhang Y, Huang J, Leng L, Bucala R. Potential role of RhoA GTPase regulation in type interferon signaling in systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2024, 26: 31. PMID: 38243295, PMCID: PMC10799493, DOI: 10.1186/s13075-024-03263-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPeripheral blood mononuclear cellsRhoA GTPaseExpression levelsTreatment of SLEFunctions of RhoA.Knockdown of RhoAI IFN-stimulated genesSiRNA-mediated knockdownI interferonEnzyme-linked immunoassayIFN-stimulated genesGTPase signalingExpression levels of RhoASLE patientsLevels of RhoALupus erythematosusSLE peripheral blood mononuclear cellsGTPase regulatorHealthy controlsExpression of RhoAResponse pathwaysReporter gene assayRhoAType I IFN signalingSignal transducer
2021
Role of MIF in coordinated expression of hepatic chemokines in patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis
Poulsen KL, Fan X, Kibler CD, Huang E, Wu X, McMullen MR, Leng L, Bucala R, Ventura-Cots M, Argemi J, Bataller R, Nagy LE. Role of MIF in coordinated expression of hepatic chemokines in patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis. JCI Insight 2021, 6: e141420. PMID: 33945507, PMCID: PMC8262327, DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.141420.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMacrophage migration inhibitory factorAlcohol-associated hepatitisChemokine expressionHealthy controlsLiver diseaseRole of MIFMIF KO miceChronic liver diseaseCytokines/chemokinesMigration inhibitory factorUpstream regulatorChemokine signatureChemokine CCL20WT miceCultured hepatocytesMultiple chemokinesChemokine systemInflammatory responseChemokine membersNovel therapiesEthanol feedingPatientsChemokine familyChemokinesInhibitory factor
2019
2598. Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor May Contribute to Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis Susceptibility
Odio C, Leng L, Siu E, Piecychna M, Galgiani J, Holland S, Bucala R. 2598. Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor May Contribute to Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis Susceptibility. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2019, 6: s903-s903. PMCID: PMC6810323, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofz360.2276.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMacrophage migration inhibitory factorPlasma MIF levelsHigh MIF expressionMigration inhibitory factorHuman lung epithelial cellsMIF expressionDisseminated coccidioidomycosisHealthy controlsLung epithelial cellsMIF levelsHigh-expression MIF allelesInhibitory factorEpithelial cellsFisher's exact testCATT5-8MIF polymorphismsSelf-identified African AmericansInflammatory cytokinesMIF allelesGranulomatous diseaseLow-expression allelePromoter polymorphismCoccidioidomycosis patientsPatientsExact test