Lysophospholipid receptor signaling in zebrafish development

Lysophospholipids are membrane-derived phospholipids with two well-known members, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Both lipids have attracted attention for their roles in different physiological and pathological conditions via binding to G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). LPA receptors are widely expressed with overlapping and distinct signaling and tissue distribution. They are closely related to the purinergic GPCRs and function via remodeling actin cytoskeleton or altering gene expression. LPA receptors are involved in neuronal, cardiovascular, immune and reproductive functions and also regulate bone and adipocyte development. S1P receptors are also critical in overlapping physiological processes despite those well-defined LPA and S1P-related functions in mammals, their roles in vivo especially during development are less well understood mainly due to the difficulty to study developmental processes in mammals. Zebrafish is an emergent vertebrate model particular suitable for in vivo and developmental research. Recently, more laboratories including ours have begun to explore lysophospholipid signaling in zebrafish and identified some previously known or unappreciated functions for lysophospholipids in embryogenesis, cardiovascular and neuronal development. Therefore, we will discuss those discoveries and compare them to our understanding of lysophospholipid signaling in mammalian studies.