Suppressive Regulation by MFG‐E8 of Latent Transforming Growth Factor β–Induced Fibrosis via Binding to αv Integrin: Significance in the Pathogenesis of Fibrosis in Systemic Sclerosis

Abstract

These results suggest that vasculopathy-induced dysfunction of pericytes and endothelial cells, the main cells secreting MFG-E8, may be associated with the decreased expression of MFG-E8 in SSc and that the deficient inhibitory regulation of latent TGFβ-induced skin fibrosis by MFG-E8 may be involved in the pathogenesis of SSc and may be a therapeutic target for fibrosis in SSc patients.