Hepatogastroenterology

In the present study, LPA was found to increase HCC cell migration, invasion and adhesion. In addition, LPA increased MMP-9 expression level and induced activation of the p38 mitogen- activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK signal pathway with SB203580 significantly attenuated LPA-induced HCC cell migration, invasion, and adhesion and abrogated LPA-induced MMP-9 expression and p38 MAPK phosphorylation.

We demonstrated a mechanism that LPA can activate p38 MAPK signaling, which is required for LPA-induced HCC cell migration, invasion, adhesion and MMP-9 expression, providing a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target for HCC.