CXCR4 and autoimmune disease: As a proinflammatory mediator secreted by numerous immune cells, MIF promotes inflammation and autoimmune diseases mainly by binding with the receptor CD74 and co-receptor CD44, CXCR4, or CXCR2 (Liehn et al., 2013; Nakamura et al., 2021; Wallace et al., 2021).