Pleiotropic effects of lysophosphatidic acid on striatal astrocytes

Abstract

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a potent lipid mediator that is likely involved in diverse functions in the brain. Several recent studies have suggested that astrocytes are important target cells for LPA. In the present study, we have identified the signal transduction pathways activated following LPA stimulation in mouse striatal astrocytes in primary culture. In cells prelabeled with myo-[3H]inositol, LPA stimulated the formation of [3H]inositol phosphates (EC50 = 0.7 μM). This effect was reproduced neither by other lysophospholipids nor by phosphatidic acid. Astrocyte pretreatment with pertussis toxin partially abolished this LPA response indicating the involvement of a Gi/Go protein. In [..