Autotaxin, also known as ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 2 (ENPP2), is a secreted lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD) that hydrolyzes lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), which has roles in cell proliferation, survival, and migration.1 It is synthesized as a zymogen and is composed of a N-terminal signal peptide, which is cleaved during maturation, two somatomedin B-like domains, a phosphodiesterase (PDE) catalytic domain, and a C-terminal nuclease-like domain.2,3 It is constitutively active and inhibited by LPA in a negative feedback loop.4,5 Autotaxin is secreted primarily by adipose tissue and endothelial cells and has been found in numerous biological fluids, including the blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and saliva. It is overexpressed in a variety of cancers, including glioblastoma multiforme, melanoma, and hepatocarcinoma.4,5,6 Autotaxin has roles in cell motility, immune regulation, and embryogenesis.4,5 Knockout of Enpp2 is embryonic lethal in mice.4 Autotaxin activity is increased in the serum of patients with a variety of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, chronic hepatitis C, or cholestasis, and serum autotaxin levels are increased in patients with asthma, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).3,7 Formulations containing autotaxin inhibitors have been used in clinical trials for the treatment of various diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), metabolic disorders, and cancer.7 Cayman’s Autotaxin (human, recombinant) protein can be used for enzyme activity assays.WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.
