The findings reported herein show, for the first time, that plasma MIF levels were markedly increased prior to the elevation of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 under conditions of glycerol-induced AKI as similar to other inflammatory diseases, and HSA-Trx markedly suppressed the glycerol-induced elevation of plasma MIF as well as TNF-α and IL-6 (Fig. 6). This evidence concerns the gene TNF and acute kidney injury.