Susceptibility to Toxoplasma gondii proliferation in BeWo human trophoblast cells is dose-dependent of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), via ERK1/2 phosphorylation and prostaglandin E2 production.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) participates in the immune response to Toxoplasma gondii, triggers ERK1/2 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) activation, but there is limited information on these mechanisms in human trophoblast. The present study aimed to verify the role of MIF in the ERK1/2 phosphorylation and PGE2 production, as well as its effect on the susceptibility to T. gondii in BeWo cells.