EVALUATION OF THE SIGNALLING MECHANISMS OF LYSOPHOSPHATIDIC ACID AND ITS ROLE IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Abstract

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), which is proposed to play an important role in normal physiological situations such as wound healing, maintenance of vascular tone, vascular integrity and reproduction, may also be implicated in the etiology of some diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer, stroke and dementia. There is a causative relationship between stroke and dementia also leading to the classical Alzheimer’s disease. Abnormal findings, including silent brain infarction, are frequently observed by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. The importance of LPA in stroke and vascular cognitive impairment has been reported. This review article is focussed on the signalling mechanisms of lysophosphatidic acid as well as its role in central nervous system.

Key Words:   Stroke, dementia, lysophosphatidic acid, metabolism, nervous system