MEFV

Mediterranean fever
Identifiers
Symbol(s)	MEFV; MEF; FMF; MGC126560; MGC126586; TRIM20
External IDs	OMIM: 608107 MGI: 1859396 Homologene: 32441
Gene Ontology Molecular Function: • actin binding • zinc ion binding • metal ion binding Cellular Component: • intracellular • nucleus • cytoskeleton • microtubule • microtubule associated complex Biological Process: • inflammatory response
RNA expression pattern
Additional recommended knowledge Daily Visual Balance Check How to quickly check pipettes? Safe Weighing Range Ensures Accurate Results More reference expression data
Orthologs
	Human	Mouse
Entrez	4210	54483
Ensembl	ENSG00000103313	ENSMUSG00000022534
Uniprot	O15553	Q32MT1
Refseq	NM_000243 (mRNA) NP_000234 (protein)	NM_019453 (mRNA) NP_062326 (protein)
Location	Chr 16: 3.23 - 3.25 Mb	Chr 16: 3.62 - 3.63 Mb
Pubmed search	[1]	[2]

MEFV (Mediterranean fever) is a human gene that provides instructions for making a protein called pyrin (also known as marenostrin). Pyrin is produced in certain white blood cells (neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes) that play a role in inflammation and in fighting infection. Inside these white blood cells, pyrin is found with the cytoskeleton, the structural framework that helps to define the shape, size, and movement of a cell. Pyrin's protein structure also allows it to interact with other molecules involved in fighting infection and in the inflammatory response.

Although pyrin's function is not fully understood, it likely assists in keeping the inflammation process under control. Research indicates that pyrin helps regulate inflammation by interacting with the cytoskeleton. Pyrin may direct the migration of white blood cells to sites of inflammation and stop or slow the inflammatory response when it is no longer needed.

The MEFV gene is located on the short (p) arm of chromosome 16 at position 13.3, from base pair 3,232,028 to base pair 3,246,627.

Related conditions

Familial Mediterranean fever: More than 80 MEFV mutations that cause familial Mediterranean fever have been identified. A few mutations delete small amounts of DNA from the MEFV gene, which can lead to an abnormally small protein. Most MEFV mutations, however, change one of the protein building blocks (amino acids) used to make pyrin. The most common mutation replaces the amino acid methionine with the amino acid valine at protein position 694 (written as Met694Val or M694V). Among people with familial Mediterranean fever, this particular mutation is also associated with an increased risk of developing amyloidosis, a complication in which abnormal protein deposits can lead to kidney failure. Some evidence suggests that another gene, called SAA1, can further modify the risk of developing amyloidosis among people with the M694V mutation.

MEFV mutations lead to reduced amounts of pyrin or a malformed pyrin protein that cannot function properly. As a result, pyrin cannot perform its presumed role in controlling inflammation, leading to an inappropriate or prolonged inflammatory response. Fever and inflammation in the abdomen, chest, joints or skin are signs of familial Mediterranean fever.

Further reading