Does the phosphatidylserine receptor have essential functions during embryogenesis but not in apoptotic cell removal?
Ptdsr is essential for the development and differentiation of multiple organs during embryogenesis but not for apoptotic cell removal. Ptdsr may thus have a novel, unexpected developmental function as an important differentiation-promoting gene. Moreover, Ptdsr is not required for apoptotic cell clearance by macrophages but seems to be necessary for the regulation of macrophage cytokine responses. These results clearly contradict the current view that the phosphatidylserine receptor primarily functions in apoptotic cell clearance.
Cytoplasmic expression of AP-2alpha is reduced in poorly differentiated prostate carcinomas. The rare nuclear expression occurs in a small proportion of tumors which are aneuploid, have a high T category and high Gleason score. The expression of AP-2 seems to have no prognostic value in prostate cancer.