Consistently with animal model findings, in our previous study, we observed increased peripheral and intrathecal expression of MIF, TNFα and IL-1β and a correlation of serum MIF levels with CSF albumin concentration in TBE patients [14], while in a group of 78 patients with encephalitis of various etiology, described by Michael et al., higher concentrations of IL-10 in serum and CSF associated with a lower BBB permeability [36]. Here, MIF is linked to encephalitis.