Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor: Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology, 2080)

This volume looks at--and discusses the techniques of--a range of areas in biology in which macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is studied. Topics covered in this book include methods to quantify MIF in cell supernatants and human samples, using ELISA and western blot; detection and analysis of intracellular MIF using flow cytometry; genotyping of human MIF polymorphisms, detection of MIF expression in a marine invertebrate using rapid amplification of cDNA RACE; studying the MIF receptor CD74 in tissues using immunohistochemistry; and studying MIF in models of disease such as asthma, Plasmodium infection, and gout. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and practical, Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource that will help researchers gain a new understanding of MIF biology in health and disease.