Abstract: Objective To study the expression difference and clinical value of MIF, TNF-α in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) tissue and normal lung tissue.  Methods The lung specimens were divided into normal control group (17 cases) and PTB group (33 cases).All the specimens in PTB group were divided into 15 non-cavity groups (including 15 tubercle tissues and 15 peripheral tissues of tubercle) and 18 cavity groups (including 18 tubercle tissues and 18 peripheral tissues of tubercle).The expressions of MIF、TNF-α in lung tussues were examined with quantitative immunohistochemistry assay.  Results There are a lot of expressions of MIF、TNF-α,in which most of them were expressed by epithelioid cell and Langhans’ giant cells in tubercles of PTB. The expression levels of MIF、TNF-α in the tubercles of PTB is much higher than that in the peripheral tissues of the tubercles in PTB, which was much higher than that in the normal lungs. The expression levels of MIF、TNF-α of cavity groups is higher than that of non-cavity groups. The tubercles of PTB, MIF and TNF-α are positively correlated.  Conclusions MIF、TNF-α are closely correlated with the formation of tubercles in PTB. The overexpression of MIF and TNF-α in the tubercles of PTB might play a crucial role in the formation of cavity of PTB.

Key words: tuberculosis, pulmonary, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha