title: Surface exposure of phosphatidylserine in pathological cells.
abstract: The asymmetric phospholipid distribution in plasma membranes is normally maintained by energy-dependent lipid transporters that translocate different phospholipids from one monolayer to the other against their respective concentration gradients. When cells are activated, or enter apoptosis, lipid asymmetry can be perturbed by other lipid transporters (scramblases) that shuttle phospholipids non-specifically between the two monolayers. This exposes phosphatidylserine (PS) at the cells' outer surface. Since PS promotes blood coagulation, defective scramblase activity upon platelet stimulation causes a bleeding disorder (Scott syndrome). PS exposure also plays a pivotal role in the recognition and removal of apoptotic cells via a PS-recognizing receptor on phagocytic cells. Furthermore, expression of PS at the cell surface can occur in a wide variety of disorders. This review aims at highlighting how PS expression in different cells may complicate a variety of pathological conditions, including those that promote thromboembolic complications or produce aberrations in apoptotic cell removal.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht CARIM, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, Netherlands. rfa.zwaal@bioch.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: R F A
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Zwaal
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Comfurius
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bevers
mesh_terms: D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D010718:Phosphatidylserines