MIF Expression in Induced Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells by Vitamin D3 and its Potential Correlation with Resting Metabolic Rate in Obesity

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) plays a pivotal role in systemic and local inflammatory and immune responses. The aim of this study is to assess MIF gene expression in PBMCs harvested from obese individuals and to compare it with that of lean subjects to analyze any potential relationship between resting metabolic rate as well as several different parameters and MIF expression in PBMC. We also aim to assess anti-inflammatory characteristics of vitamin D 3 on MIF expression in vitro . Participants were 30 obese and 18 non-obese subjects who were assessed following an overnight fasting for RMR by means of indirect calorimetry. Body composition was measured using a Bodystat device. The PBMCs were separated from whole blood by the Ficoll-hypaque technique. The mRNA was extracted and the cDNA was synthesized. This process was followed by real-time PCR using primer pairs specific for MIF mRNA and beta actin as internal control. Our findings clearly demonstrate that there were significant differences in terms of BMI, BMR predict, fat proportion, fat mass, free fat mass, TBW, visceral fat, fasting serum glucose, TG, HDL, Hs-CRP and RMR between the two groups. Moreover, the level of MIF expression in the obese group was approximately 2.5 times higher compared to the lean group. An increased level of MIF expression in the obese group and a decreased expression of that non-obese was observed after inducing PBMCs with vitamin D3. One of the intriguing results of this study was the observed reverse correlation between MIF expression and fat mass as well as fat proportion after PBMCs were cultured in the presence of vitamin D 3 . Therefore, it could be concluded that MIF expression, which is in turn influenced by vitamin D 3 , has a role in the hyperactive immune profile and the pro-inflammatory state observed in obese individuals which is suggested to have a causal relationship with obesity

Iran in transition

Being the second-largest country in the Middle East, Iran has a long history of civilisation during which several dynasties have been overthrown and established and health-related structures have been reorganised. Iran has had the replacement of traditional practices with modern medical treatments, emergence of multiple pioneer scientists and physicians with great contributions to the advancement of science, environmental and ecological changes in addition to large-scale natural disasters, epidemics of multiple communicable diseases, and the shift towards non-communicable diseases in recent decades. Given the lessons learnt from political instabilities in the past centuries and the approaches undertaken to overcome health challenges at the time, Iran has emerged as it is today. Iran is now a country with a population exceeding 80 million, mainly inhabiting urban regions, and has an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, malignancies, mental disorders, substance abuse, and road injuries