Mfge8 is critical for mammary gland remodeling during involution

K Atabai, R Fernandez, X Huang, I Ueki… - Molecular biology of …, 2005 - Am Soc Cell Biol
K Atabai, R Fernandez, X Huang, I Ueki, A Kline, Y Li, S Sadatmansoori, C Smith-Steinhart…
Molecular biology of the cell, 2005Am Soc Cell Biol
Apoptosis is a critical process in normal mammary gland development and the rapid
clearance of apoptotic cells prevents tissue injury associated with the release of intracellular
antigens from dying cells. Milk fat globule-EGF-factor 8 (Mfge8) is a milk glycoprotein that is
abundantly expressed in the mammary gland epithelium and has been shown to facilitate
the clearance of apoptotic lymphocytes by splenic macrophages. We report that mice with
disruption of Mfge8 had normal mammary gland development until involution. However …
Apoptosis is a critical process in normal mammary gland development and the rapid clearance of apoptotic cells prevents tissue injury associated with the release of intracellular antigens from dying cells. Milk fat globule-EGF-factor 8 (Mfge8) is a milk glycoprotein that is abundantly expressed in the mammary gland epithelium and has been shown to facilitate the clearance of apoptotic lymphocytes by splenic macrophages. We report that mice with disruption of Mfge8 had normal mammary gland development until involution. However, abnormal mammary gland remodeling was observed postlactation in Mfge8 mutant mice. During early involution, Mfge8 mutant mice had increased numbers of apoptotic cells within the mammary gland associated with a delay in alveolar collapse and fat cell repopulation. As involution progressed, Mfge8 mutants developed inflammation as assessed by CD45 and CD11b staining of mammary gland tissue sections. With additional pregnancies, Mfge8 mutant mice developed progressive dilatation of the mammary gland ductal network. These data demonstrate that Mfge8 regulates the clearance of apoptotic epithelial cells during mammary gland involution and that the absence of Mfge8 leads to inflammation and abnormal mammary gland remodeling.
Am Soc Cell Biol