Physiological Significance of Lysophospholipids that Act on the Lumen Side of Mammalian Lower Digestive Tracts

Abstract

The lysophospholipid mediator family is attracting increased attention for its role in the maintenance of human health and the prevention and treatment of human chronic diseases. This review focuses on recent findings about lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and its potential precursor phospholipids present in the apical lumen of mammalian lower digestive tracts. In particular, information on the protective effect of LPA toward rat gastric mucosa allowed us to better understand the mechanisms of the gastric ulcer-protective effect of a Chinese medicine and the beneficial effects of intake of vegetables and/or soybean lecithin in foods. These findings may indicate that LPA-rich foodstuffs promote human health by regulating the integral and functional homeostasis of the gastrointestinal mucosa, although the safety of LPA supplementation should be intensively investigated further.