RESUMEN
Objective: To investigate the effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) on the gene expression of migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). Methods: The healthy human PBMC was cultured with hCG at 37 ℃, 5%CO_2 for 2 hours. The mRNA of harvested cells was isolated. The MIF mRNA was detected by real-time RT-PCR. Results: In a certain range of doses, the mRNA expression of MIF significantly increased following the increase of hCG in a dose depandent manner, and it reached to a peak 1-2 hours after culture, then returned to the minimum level after 8 hours. Conclusion: In a certain range of doses, hCG can increase the mRNA expression of MIF. This effect is correlated with reacting time. It is suggested that hCG may involve in immune response by up-regulating the production of cytokines by PBMC.