Cleavage of the phosphatidylserine receptor by neutrophil elastase specifically disrupts phagocytosis of apoptotic cells (26, 27) and as free neutrophil elastase is increased in the CF airway (28, 29), it may explain the reduced apoptotic response and defective efferocytosis observed in the CF airway. This evidence concerns the gene JMJD6 and cystic fibrosis.