MFGE8

Abstract: Apoptotic cells expose phosphatidylserine and are swiftly engulfed by macrophages. Milk fat globule epidermal growth factor (EGF) factor 8 (MFG-E8) is a protein that binds to apoptotic cells by recognizing phosphatidylserine and that enhances the engulfment of apoptotic cells by macrophages. We report that tingible body macrophages in the germinal centers of the spleen and lymph nodes strongly express MFG-E8. Many apoptotic lymphocytes were found on the MFG-E8-/- tingible body macrophages, but they were not efficiently engulfed. The MFG-E8-/- mice developed splenomegaly, with the formation of numerous germinal centers, and suffered from glomerulonephritis as a result of autoantibody production. These data demonstrate that MFG-E8 has a critical role in removing apoptotic B cells in the germinal centers and that its failure can lead to autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced blood vessel growth is involved in both physiological and pathological angiogenesis and requires integrin-mediated signaling. We now show that an integrin-binding protein initially described in milk-fat globule, MFG-E8 (also known as lactadherin), is expressed in and around blood vessels and has a crucial role in VEGF-dependent neovascularization in the adult mouse. Using neutralizing antibodies and lactadherin-deficient animals, we show that lactadherin interacts with αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins and alters both VEGF-dependent Akt phosphorylation and neovascularization. In the absence of VEGF, lactadherin administration induced αvβ3- and αvβ5-dependent Akt phosphorylation in endothelial cells in vitro and strongly improved postischemic neovascularization in vivo. These results show a crucial role for lactadherin in VEGF-dependent neovascularization and identify lactadherin as an important target for the modulation of neovascularization.

Abstract: Background— Atherosclerosis is an immunoinflammatory disease; however, the key factors responsible for the maintenance of immune regulation in a proinflammatory milieu are poorly understood. Methods and Results— Here, we show that milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 (Mfge8, also known as lactadherin) is expressed in normal and atherosclerotic human arteries and is involved in phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells by peritoneal macrophages. Disruption of bone marrow–derived Mfge8 in a murine model of atherosclerosis leads to substantial accumulation of apoptotic debris both systemically and within the developing lipid lesions. The accumulation of apoptotic material is associated with a reduction in interleukin-10 in the spleen but an increase in interferon-γ production in both the spleen and the atherosclerotic arteries. In addition, we report a dendritic cell-dependent alteration of natural regulatory T-cell function in the absence of Mfge8. These events are associated with a marked acceleration of atheroscle...

Abstract: Apoptotic cells are rapidly phagocytosed by professional phagocytes, such as macrophages and dendritic cells. This process prevents the release of potentially noxious or immunogenic intracellular materials from dying cells, and is thought to play a critical role for the maintenance of normal functions in surrounding tissues. Milk fat globule-EGF-factor 8 (MFG-E8), secreted by activated macrophages and immature dendritic cells, links apoptotic cells and phagocytes, and promotes phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Here, we report that an MFG-E8 mutant, designated as D89E, carrying a point mutation in an RGD motif, inhibited not only the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by a wide variety of phagocytes, but also inhibited the enhanced production of IL-10 by thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages phagocytosing apoptotic cells. When intravenously injected into mice, the D89E protein induced the production of autoantibodies including antiphospholipids antibodies and antinuclear antibodies. The production of autoantibodies was enhanced by the coinjection of syngeneic apoptotic thymocytes. After the induction of autoantibody production by D89E, the treated mice showed a long-term elevation of the titer for autoantibodies, and developed IgG deposition in the glomeruli. These results indicated that the impairment of apoptotic cell phagocytosis led to autoantibody production.