Autotaxin in liver fibrosis

• Published in: Clinica chimica acta Vol. 413; no. 23-24; pp. 1817 - 1821
• Main Authors: Ikeda, Hitoshi, Yatomi, Yutaka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.11.2012
• Subjects: Autotaxin; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - enzymology; Hepatic Stellate Cells - metabolism; Hepatic Stellate Cells - pathology; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis - blood; Liver Cirrhosis - enzymology; Liver Cirrhosis - pathology; Liver fibrosis; Lysophosphatidic acid; Lysophospholipase D; Lysophospholipids - biosynthesis; Lysophospholipids - metabolism; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases - metabolism; Pruritus - enzymology; Lysophospholipase D; Liver fibrosis; Lysophosphatidic acid; Autotaxin
• ISSN: 0009-8981; 1873-3492; 1873-3492
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2012.07.014

Autotaxin (ATX) hydrolyzes lysophosphatidylcholine to produce lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a multi-functional bioactive lipid mediator. ATX is a major determinant of LPA levels in the blood, and the pathophysiological functions of ATX are thought to be largely attributed to its ability to produce LPA. Liver fibrosis is one of the rare disorders exhibiting the increased ATX and LPA levels in the blood. This review summarizes the recent findings on the relation between ATX or LPA and liver fibrosis, the usefulness of serum ATX levels to predict the stages of liver fibrosis, and speculated roles of increased serum ATX and plasma LPA levels in liver fibrosis. ► Autotaxin's effects are largely attributed to its ability to produce LPA. ► Serum autotaxin levels may be a useful marker for liver fibrosis. ► The potential roles of increased serum autotaxin in liver fibrosis are reported.