Macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF) gene polymorphisms are associated with disease susceptibility and with circulating MIF levels in active non-segmental vitiligo in patients from western Mexico.

Background: The macrophage migration inhibiting factor (MIF) is a protein that promotes the activation of immune cells and the production of other proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ, which have proposed to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. The study aimed to assess the association between MIF polymorphisms (-794 CATT and -173 G>C), MIF in situ expression, and MIF serum concentrations with susceptibility and disease activity in patients with non-segmental vitiligo (NSV) from western Mexico.

Methods: The study included 111 patients with NSV and 201 control subjects.