Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a multi-functional chemokine-like cytokine that plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of numerous inflammatory and cardiovascular disorders such as sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory lung diseases, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, and atherosclerosis18–22. The gene discussed is MIF; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.