MFGE8 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Glucocorticoids ameliorate the symptoms of SLE in mice by enhancing the clearance of apoptotic cells, and the inhibition of MFG-E8 expression via RNA interference or genetic knockout significantly suppressed the phagocytosis-enhancing effects of glucocorticoids in these SLE mice, indicating that the MFG-E8-dependent induction of apoptotic cell clearance is critical for the anti-inflammatory effect of glucocorticoids (Table 2) [48].