In line with these findings, mice deficient in molecular components used by macrophages to efficiently perform efferocytosis, such as MFG-E8, MERTK, TIM4, and C1q, develop phenotypes associated with autoimmunity (Scott et al., 2001; Cohen et al., 2002; Henson and Bratton, 2013; Nagata, 2018; Fadok et al., 1998; Voll et al., 1997; Cvetanovic and Ucker, 2004; Hanayama et al., 2004; Miyanishi et al., 2012; Colonna et al., 2016; Nagata et al., 2010; Kimani et al., 2014; Hanayama et al., 2002; Kawano and Nagata, 2018; Watanabe-Fukunaga et al., 1992; Singer et al., 1994). This evidence concerns the gene MERTK and Autoimmunity.