Diverse effects of LPA receptors on cell motile activities of cancer cells.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lipid that interacts with G protein-coupled transmembrane LPA receptors (LPA1 to LPA6). LPA mediates a variety of cellular responses in normal cells, including cell growth, motility, differentiation, morphogenesis, and prevention from apoptosis. Furthermore, LPA signaling via LPA receptors is involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including cancer. Cell motility is one of the important properties during the progression of cancer cells. In recent studies, it has been demonstrated that LPA receptors have the diverse effects in the cell motile activities of cancer cells, depending on the cell types involved. In this review, we provide the current knowledge for the biological roles of LPA receptors in the cell motile activities of cancer cells.