Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a versatile lysolipid, and activates a variety of signaling cascades in many cell types. Extracellular LPA is produced from lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) by the enzyme autotaxin (ATX), and binds to a family of G-protein coupled receptors on its target cells. Research by many groups continues to support the idea that LPA, and the ATX-LPA axis, have important roles in asthma and allergic airway inflammation. In vitro studies have shown that LPA activates many cell types implicated in airway inflammation, including eosinophils, mast cells, dendritic cells, lymphocytes, airway epithelial cells, and airway smooth muscle cells. In animal models ATX and LPA receptor antagonists have been shown to attenuate allergic airway inflammation and hyperreactivity, cardinal features of asthma in humans. ATX and LPA antagonists are currently under active development to treat lung fibrosis, cancer, and other conditions. If compounds with acceptable safety profiles can be identified, then it seems likely that they will be useful in inflammatory lung diseases like asthma.

溶血磷脂酸 (LPA) 是一种多功能溶血脂，可激活多种细胞类型中的多种信号级联反应。细胞外 LPA 由溶血磷脂酰胆碱 (LPC) 通过自分泌运动因子 (ATX) 酶产生，并与其靶细胞上的 G 蛋白偶联受体家族结合。许多团体的研究继续支持 LPA 和 ATX-LPA 轴在哮喘和过敏性气道炎症中发挥重要作用的观点。体外研究表明，LPA 可激活多种与气道炎症有关的细胞类型，包括嗜酸性粒细胞、肥大细胞、树突状细胞、淋巴细胞、气道上皮细胞和气道平滑肌细胞。在动物模型中，ATX 和 LPA 受体拮抗剂已被证明可以减轻过敏性气道炎症和高反应性，这是人类哮喘的主要特征。 ATX 和 LPA 拮抗剂目前正在积极开发中，用于治疗肺纤维化、癌症和其他疾病。如果能够鉴定出具有可接受的安全性的化合物，那么它们似乎将可用于治疗哮喘等炎症性肺部疾病。