| Literature DB >> 27579162 |
Kathrin Sinningen1, Sylvia Thiele2, Lorenz C Hofbauer3, Martina Rauner2.
Abstract
Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) is a glycoprotein that is abundantly expressed in various tissues and has a pivotal role in the phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells. However, MFG-E8 has also gained significant attention because of its wide range of functions in autoimmunity, inflammation and tissue homeostasis. More recently, MFG-E8 has been identified as a critical regulator of bone homeostasis, being expressed in both, osteoblasts and osteoclasts. In addition, it was shown that MFG-E8 fulfils an active role in modulating inflammatory processes, suggesting an anti-inflammatory role of MFG-E8 and proposing it as a novel therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. This concise review focusses on the expression and regulation of MFG-E8 in the context of inflammatory bone diseases, highlights its role in the pathophysiology of osteoimmune diseases and discusses the therapeutic potential of MFG-E8.Entities:
Year: 2016 PMID: 27579162 PMCID: PMC4954605 DOI: 10.1038/bonekey.2016.52
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Bonekey Rep ISSN: 2047-6396