Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a growth factor-like mediator and a ligand for multiple GPCR. The LPA2 GPCR mediates antiapoptotic and mucosal barrier-protective effects in the gut. We synthesized sulfamoyl benzoic acid (SBA) analogues that are the first specific agonists of LPA2, some with subnanomolar activity. We developed an experimental SAR that is supported and rationalized by computationa...

The role of lipid metabolic enzymes in Golgi membrane remodeling is a subject of intense interest. Now, in this issue, Schmidt and Brown (2009. J. Cell Biol. doi:10.1083/jcb.200904147) report that lysophosphatidic acid-specific acyltransferase, LPAAT3, contributes to Golgi membrane dynamics by suppressing tubule formation.

Using transcriptome meta-analysis, we recently identified the autotaxin (ATX)-lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) pathway as a regulator of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk in human cirrhosis patients. Pharmacological targeting of this pathway reduced fibrosis progression and HCC development in animals, identifying ATX-LPA signaling as a novel chemoprevention strategy for cirrhosis and HCC.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is elevated in ascites of ovarian cancer patients and stimulates growth and other activities of ovarian cancer cells in vitro. Tissue hypoxia is a critical factor for tumor aggressiveness and metastasis in cancers. We tested whether the ascites of ovarian cancer is hypoxic and whether hypoxia influences the effects of LPA on ovarian cancer cells. We found that ovaria...

BACKGROUND We previously reported that intrathecal injection of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) induced neuropathic pain through activation of the lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-1 receptor, possibly via conversion to LPA by autotaxin (ATX). RESULTS We examined in vivo LPA-induced LPA production using a biological titration assay with B103 cells expressing LPA1 receptors. Intrathecal administration...

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is one of the simplest natural phospholipids. This phospholipid is recognized as an extracellular potent lipid mediator with diverse effects on various cells. Although LPA is shown to stimulate proliferation and motility via LPA receptors, LPA(1) and LPA(2), in several cancer cell lines, the role of LPA and LPA receptors for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has b...