Milk Fat Globule EGF and Factor V/VIII Domain Containing (MFGE8) as a Novel Player in Equine Endometrial Fibrosis

Single cell sequencing revealed a certain degree of heterogeneity among cultured fibroblasts. TGF β1 exposure of fibroblasts confirmed its profibrotic effects by altered expression of transcripts associated with extracellular matrix remodeling, the upregulation of growth factors, e.g. platelet-derived growth factor B, while downregulating interferon alpha, beta, and gamma signaling.

MFGE8 treatment effects were subtler, including decreased profibrotic leukemia inhibitory factor expression and an upregulation of interferon alpha and beta signaling in a subset of cells. In a fibroblast subpopulation, upregulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog signaling, indicated an antifibrotic effect of MFGE8.