Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor, the Zelig of Cytokines, Is a Chaperone for SOD1 in Non-Neuronal Cells

Pathogenic properties of mutant SOD1 in ALS likely involve binding to mitochondrial and ER membranes. In this issue of Neuron, Israelson et al. (2015) show that motor neurons, selectively vulnerable in ALS, lack a chaperone that precludes mSOD1 binding intracellular membranes in other cells. This chaperone is identified as the pleiotropic cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor. Pathogenic properties of mutant SOD1 in ALS likely involve binding to mitochondrial and ER membranes. In this issue of Neuron, Israelson et al. (2015) show that motor neurons, selectively vulnerable in ALS, lack a chaperone that precludes mSOD1 binding intracellular membranes in other cells. This chaperone is identified as the pleiotropic cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor.