Inhibition or lack of MIF attenuated development of septic shock [3,6], encephalitis [13], autoimmune encephalomyelitis [16,17], rheumatoid arthritis [25,26], colitis [27], concanavalin A induced liver injury [28], glomerulonephritis [29] and atherosclerosis [30]. The gene discussed is MIF; the disease is viral encephalitis.