Fig. 2.

Scheme of receptors that induce phagocytosis and involvement of AIM. (Left) Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells is performed via receptors that recognize PS as well as soluble MFG-E8 protein that binds to both PS and a specific integrin expressed by phagocytes. (Right) A broad variety of scavenger receptors can recognize bacterial PAMPs or modified self-molecules including modified LDL as well as dead cells. AIM is recognized by a variety of scavenger receptors including CD36 and KIM-1 and is endocytosed by phagocytes together with the molecules (or dead cells) that are bound to AIM. The AIM protein itself also has a pattern recognition property like other scavenger receptors to bind to dead cells or PAMPs