An apoptosis-associated mammary protein deficiency leads to enhanced production of IgM antibodies against multiple damage-associated molecules.

ABSTRACT: Milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) is a protein that binds to apoptotic cells by recognizing phosphatidylserine and enhances the engulfment of apoptotic cells by macrophages. Many apoptotic cells are left unengulfed in the germinal centers of the spleen in the MFG-E8-deficient (MFG-E8(-/-)) mice, and these mice develop an autoimmune disease resembling human systemic lupus erythematosus. We found that the MFG-E8 deficiency was accompanied by the increased production of immunoglobulins. Further Western blot and ELISA analyses validated the increase in the IgM levels in the MFG-E8(-/-) mice. It was also revealed that the sera from the MFG-E8(-/-) mice cross-reacted with oxidation-specific epitopes generated upon incubation of serum albumin with the peroxidized lipids. Among t

SUBMITTER: Chikazawa M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3709889 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature