Objective: To investigate the association between macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and collagen synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).
Method: VSMCs isolated from SD rat aorta were cultured in different culture plates, and the fourth passage of cells were divided into two groups, one of which was simulated by MIF and the other served as control group. Collagen I and III mRNA expression in the VSMCs was detected by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR and PCR.
Result: Collagen I and III mRNA expression in MIF-treated VSMCs increased significantly as compared with that in the control cells (P<0.05).
Conclusion: MIF increases collagen I and III mRNA expression of VSMCs in vitro, indicating its involvement in collagen synthesis in VSMCs.