We previously reported that nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain is initiated by newly produced lysophosphatidic acid (LPA).
In this study, we developed a quantitative mass spectrometry for detecting LPA species by using Phos-tag. Following nerve injury, the levels of 18:1, 16:0 and 18:0 LPA in the spinal dorsal horn significantly increased at 3 h and declined at 6 h. Among them, 18:1 LPA level was the most abundant. In the same preparation, there were significant elevations in the activities of cytosolic phospholipase A 2 (cPLA 2) and calcium-independent phospholipase A 2 (iPLA 2), key enzymes for LPA synthesis, at 1 h, while there was no significant change in phospholipase A 1 activity. Pharmacological studies revealed that NMDA and neurokinin 1 receptors, cPLA 2, iPLA 2 and microglial activation, as well as LPA 1 and LPA 3 receptors were all involved in the nerve injury-induced LPA production, and underlying cPLA 2 and iPLA 2 activations. In the cells expressing LPA 1 or LPA 3 receptor, the receptor-mediated calcium mobilization was most potent with 18:1 LPA, compared with 16:0 or 18:0 LPA. Moreover, the intrathecal injection of 18:1 LPA, but not 16:0 or 18:0 LPA, caused a spinal LPA production and neuropathic pain-like behavior.