Lysophosphatidic acid is associated with neuropathic pain intensity in humans: An exploratory study

PLoS One. 2018 Nov 8;13(11):e0207310. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207310. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The underlying mechanisms of neuropathic pain remain to be elucidated. Basic animal research has suggested that lysophosphatidic acids, which are bioactive lipids produced by autotaxin from lysophosphatidylcholine, may play key roles in the initiation and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Here, we investigated the clinical relevance of lysophosphatidic acids signaling on neuropathic pain in humans. Eighteen patients who had been diagnosed with neuropathic pain with varied etiologies participated in the study. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were obtained by lumbar puncture and the concentrations of 12 species of lysophosphatidic acids and lysophosphatidylcholine, autotaxin, and the phosphorylated neurofilament heavy subunit were measured. Pain symptoms were assessed using an 11-point numeric rating scale and the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory regarding intensity and descriptive dimensions of neuropathic pain. The total lysophosphatidic acids were significantly associated with both pain intensity and symptoms. 18:1 and 20:4 lysophosphatidic acids in particular demonstrated the most correlations with dimensions of pain symptoms. Autotaxin and the phosphorylated neurofilament heavy subunit showed no association with pain symptoms. In conclusions, lysophosphatidic acids were significantly associated with pain symptoms in neuropathic pain patients. These results suggest that lysophosphatidic acids signaling might be a potential therapeutic target for neuropathic pain.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lysophospholipids / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuralgia / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Pain Management*
  • Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / cerebrospinal fluid

Substances

  • Lysophospholipids
  • Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases
  • alkylglycerophosphoethanolamine phosphodiesterase
  • lysophosphatidic acid

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST) from Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)/Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) Grant number: 17gm0710001h0105 Recipient: Junken Aoki Leading Advanced Projects for medical innovation (LEAP) from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) Grant number: 17gm0010004s0101 Recipient: Junken Aoki Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) (Grant number: 15H05906 Recipient: Yutaka Yatomi). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.