MIF promotes perineural invasion through EMT in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a prominent orchestrator during the onset and progression of cancer. Recently, MIF was detected in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). However, its functional effect in perineural invasion (PNI) of SACC remained unknown. To illuminate the effect of MIF in genesis of PNI in SACC, we examined the expression of MIF, epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐related markers, and Schwann cell markers by immunohistochemical analysis in 158 cases of SACC samples. Meanwhile, the correlation between MIF and PNI of SACC species was analyzed. Our data indicated that MIF expression was associated with PNI of SACC significantly. In vitro, the silence and overexpression experiments of MIF were performed in SACC cell lines. The ability of migration, invasion and PNI could be inhibited significantly by siRNA‐mediated MIF silence, and the occurrence of EMT and Schwann‐like cell differentiation was also inhibited by MIF silence in SACC‐LM cells. Overexpression of MIF in SACC‐83 cells using expressive plasmid showed the opposite effects. Our findings identified that an association between PNI and MIF expression existed. MIF may promote PNI of SACC by participating in cytoskeletal reorganization and pseudo foot formation induced by EMT and the Schwann‐like cell differentiation of SACC cells.