title: Lysophosphatidic acid and signaling in sensory neurons.
abstract: Lysophosphatidic acid is a potent signaling lipid molecule that has initially been characterized as a growth factor. However, later studies have revealed many more functions such as modulation of cell shape, cell migration, prevention of apoptosis, platelet aggregation, wound healing, osteoclast differentiation, vasopressor activity, embryo implantation, angiogenesis, lung fibrosis, hair growth and more. The molecule mainly acts through the activation of a set of at least 6 G-protein-coupled receptors (LPA1-6), but intracellular LPA was also shown to signal through the activation of the nuclear receptor PPARγ. In this short review we discuss the recent observations which suggest that in pathological conditions LPA also modulates signaling in sensory neurons. Thus, LPA has been shown to play a role in the initiation of neuropathic pain and, more recently, a relation was observed between increased LPA levels in the circulation and cholestatic itch. The mechanism by which this occurs remains to be elucidated. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Linking transcription to physiology in lipodomics.
authors.affiliation: Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 69-71, 1105 BK Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.p.oude-elferink@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Ronald P J
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Oude Elferink
authors.affiliation: Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 69-71, 1105 BK Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bolier
authors.affiliation: Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 69-71, 1105 BK Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ulrich H
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Beuers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D008246:Lysophospholipids; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C032881:lysophosphatidic acid
keywords: Autotaxin; Cholestasis; Lysophosphatidic acid; Neuropathic pain; Pruritus