Autotaxin (ATX) is a secreted enzyme that is important for generating the lipid signaling molecule lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Autotaxin has lysophospholipase D activity that converts lysophosphatidylcholine to LPA. LPA is a lipid mediator that functions, for example, as a mitogen, chemoattractant, and survival factor for many cell types. The ATX-LPA signaling axis is implicated in, for example, angiogenesis, chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, fibrotic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, reperfusion injury post stroke or myocardial ischemia, reproduction and tumor progression.
USPTO Backgrounds
USPTO Backgrounds