ANXA8 is part of the annexin family of evolutionarily conserved Ca2+ and phospholipid binding proteins. ANXA8 is an anticoagulant protein that functions as an indirect inhibitor of the thromboplastin-specific complex， which takes part in the blood coagulation cascade. Where co-expressed in the same tissues， ANXA8 is expressed at a 100-fold lower level than Annexin A5. Though， ANXA8 is preferentially expressed in acute promyelocytic leukemia （APL） cells which suggests its involvement in hematopoietic cell differentiation.
