Milk Fat Globule EGF Factor 8 (MFGE8)

Mfge8 is a protein which is encoded by the MFGE8 gene. Mfge8 is secreted protein found in vertebrates, including mammals as well as birds.Mfge8 contains a phosphatidylserine (PS) binding domain, as well as an Arginine-Glycine- Aspartic acid motif, which enables the binding to integrins. Mfge8 binds PS, which is exposed on the surface of apoptotic cells. Opsonization of the apoptotic cells and binding to integrins on the surface of phagocytic cells, mediates the engulfment of the dead cell.MFGE8, when engaged by phospholipids, bound to cells via its RGD motif. It bound particularly strongly to cells expressing alpha-V-beta-3 integrin. The NIH 3T3 cell transformants that expressed a high level of alpha-V-beta-3 integrin engulfed apoptotic cells when MFGE8 was added.