MFGE8 and atherosclerosis: The physiological role of MFG-E8 in the development of atherosclerosis was examined by reconstituting wild-type or Mfg-e8-deficient bone marrow into irradiated atherosclerosis-susceptible mice. MFG-E8-deficiency in a murine model of atherosclerosis resulted in the mice accumulating apoptotic debris due to decreased apoptotic cell phagocytosis, leading to the acceleration of atherosclerosis [41].