Differential effects of sphingosine 1-phosphate and lysophosphatidic acid on endothelial cells

This review discusses multiple effects of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) on endothelial cells and proposes that S1P and LPA are important regulators of the vascular system. Two physiologic sources of S1P and LPA are platelets and lipoproteins. S1P is an inducer of angiogenesis in vivo whereas LPA is not. S1P and LPA act through endothelial cell surface Edg receptors. S1P stimulates endothelial cell migration, but inhibits migration of most nonendothelial cells. Edg1 and Edg3 receptors, working through G(i), play an important role in regulation of S1P-stimulated endothelial cell migration. LPA effects on endothelial cells are more restricted than the effects of S1P on endothelial cells. LPA stimulates migration of certain endothelial cells on certain extracellular matrix proteins. However, LPA acts like S1P in its effects on the endothelial cell cytoskeleton, proliferation, cell-cell adhesion molecule expression, and vascular permeability. LPA receptors on endothelial cells are likely Edg2 and Edg4. Future studies should better delineate the roles of Edg receptors and downstream pathways on effects of extracellular S1P and LPA and the contributions of intracellularly generated S1P and nitric oxide (NO).