Abstract
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is one of the simplest phospholipids. LPA is a potent bioactive lipid with specific and multiple effects on cells of the vessel wall and blood platelets via G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). LPA is present in serum, induces platelet aggregation, and can be generated by thrombin-stimulated platelets. Blood plasma contains physiologically relevant levels of LPA. Because of the multiple actions of LPA on cells of the vasculature, a growing body of evidence suggests that LPA plays an important role in blood clotting, wound healing, and tissue regeneration. LPA is involved in atherogenesis, pathological vasoconstriction, plaque rupture and intravascular thrombus formation. Recently many showed that LPA levels are higher in ischemic stroke samples than in matched plasma samples. Elevated plasma levels of LPA have been associated with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. Furthermore elevated plasma levels of LPA occur in acute ischemic samples. We suggest that LPA could be an early diagnostic biomarker, a prognostic indicator that can be used to test acute ischemic cerebrovascular diseases and cardiovascular diseases or an indicator of response to therapy. This leads us to propose new strategies for the prevention and therapy of cerebrovascular diseases.
Keywords: lysophosphatidic acid, ischemic stroke, g protein-coupled receptor, signaling transduction, atherosclerosis
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