Meta-analysis of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) gene -173G/C polymorphism and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) risk.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a multi-functional cytokine associated with inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The association between MIF-173G/C polymorphism and IBD risk has been extensively investigated. However, the results were conflicted and inconclusive. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis. Online electronic databases (PubMed and EMBASE) was searched. All statistical tests were performed with the software STATA version 11.0 (Stata Corporation, College station, TX, USA). A total of nine studies (ten cohorts) with 3436 cases and 2742 controls were included for this meta-analysis. MIF-173G/C polymorphism was associated with a significantly increased risk of IBD when compared with CG and GG genotypes (OR=1.43; 95% CI 1.08-1.90; I(2) =0%). In the subgroup analysis according to ethnicity, significantly increased IBD risk was observed in Asians (OR=1.74; 95% CI 1.10-2.74; I(2) =0%) but not in Caucasians (OR=1.27; 95% CI 0.89-1.82; I(2) =0%). In the subgroup analysis according to IBD type, significantly increased UC risk was observed (OR=1.43; 95% CI 1.04-1.95; I(2) =0%). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggested that MIF-173G/C polymorphism was associated with increased IBD risk.