Roles of milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 in intestinal inflammation

Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8), a glycoprotein secreted from various cells, enhances engulfment of apoptotic cells by forming a link between phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cells and α(v)β(3)-integrin on phagocytes. This process is essential for maintaining the host immune system under physiological conditions. Apart from this scavenging function, MFG-E8 also directly regulates a variety of cellular functions, such as attenuating inflammation and healing of injured tissues. Furthermore, recent studies have revealed that MFG-E8 has anti-inflammatory and regenerating roles during intestinal inflammation. This review highlights novel findings regarding the roles of MFG-E8 in intestinal pathophysiology as well as its therapeutic potential for gut inflammatory disorders.