Lysophospholipiden

Lysophospholipiden are a class of amphiphilic lipids derived from phospholipids by the removal of one fatty acyl chain. They are intermediates in phospholipid remodeling and also act as signaling molecules in various physiological processes. Common members include lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI), and lysophosphatidylserine (Lyso-PS); lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is sometimes considered alongside these species.

Biosynthesis and metabolism occur mainly through the action of phospholipase A2, which cleaves one fatty acid from a diacyl phospholipid. Lysophospholipiden can be reacylated to restore phospholipids via acyltransferases, a process known as the Lands cycle. They can also be further degraded to glycerophosphocholine or glycerophosphoethanolamine, among other products. Their levels are influenced by enzyme activity, dietary intake, and physiological state.

Biological roles of lysophospholipiden are diverse. They influence membrane properties and curvature, affect lipoprotein composition, and act as signaling lipids. Some lysophospholipids bind to G protein–coupled receptors, modulating inflammation, vascular tone, and immune responses. LPC, for example, can act as a chemoattractant and inflammatory mediator in certain contexts, while LPA receptors mediate various cellular responses including proliferation and migration.

Clinical and research relevance is increasing in lipidomics and metabolomics. Altered lysophospholipid profiles have been associated with cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and inflammatory conditions. Analytical methods such as mass spectrometry are commonly used to quantify lysophospholipiden in biological samples.