Abstract
We have shown that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is an essential regulator of human oral fibroblast biology, and that gingival fibroblasts (GF) express the LPA receptors (LPARs) LPA1–5. Therefore, we hypothesized that LPA controls multiple crucial regulatory pathways in GF. The profile of immediate‐early genes induced by LPA in GF was determined. After treatment with 1 × 10−5 M LPA for 2h or 8h, RNA extraction was done. Agilent Whole Human Genome Oligonucleotide Microarray analysis identified a complex array of significantly regulated mRNAs (> than, or < than 2‐fold of control): 2,609 (2h) and 2,348 (8h). Some of the salient Gene Ontology Biological Processes regulated include cellular energetics, cellular motility, cell‐matrix adhesion, cell‐cell adhesion, cellular calcium (and ion) homeostasis, reactive oxygen species metabolic processes, cell‐cell signaling, cell surface receptors and associated signal transduction pathways, stress pathways, immune regulation and antigen presentation, and defense response to bacteria. LPA treatment also significantly downregulated the expression of LPA4. These results provide concrete evidence that LPA is a mediator of key importance for oral fibroblasts, with the potential to exert complex actions during periodontal inflammation and wound healing. Support: Health Future Foundation (D.R.C).