Phospholipids are distributed asymmetrically in the plasma membrane (PM) of mammalian cells. Phosphatidylinositol (PI) and its phosphorylated forms are primarily located in the inner leaflet of the PM. Among them, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P-2) is a well-known substrate for phospholipase C (PLC) or phosphoinositide-3 kinase, and is also a regulator for the actin cytoskeleton or ion channels. Although functions of PI(4,5)P-2 in the inner leaflet are well characterized, those in the outer leaflet are poorly understood. Here, PI(4,5)P-2 was detected in the cell surface of non-permeabilized cells by anti-PI(4,5)P-2 antibodies and the pleckstrin-homology (PH) domain of PLC delta 1 that specifically binds PI(4,5)P-2. Cell surface PI(4,5)P-2 signal was universally detected in various cell lines and freshly isolated mouse bone marrow cells and showed a punctate pattern in a cholesterol, sphingomyelin, and actin polymerization-dependent manner. Furthermore, blocking cell surface PI(4,5)P-2 by the addition of anti-PI(4,5)P-2 antibody or the PH domain of PLC delta 1 inhibited cell attachment, spreading, and migration. Taken together, these results indicate a unique localization of PI(4,5)P-2 in the outer leaflet that may have a crucial role in cell attachment, spreading, and migration. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.