A blocking peptide stabilizes lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 and promotes lysophosphatidic acid-induced cellular responses.

G protein-coupled receptors regulate a variety of cellular responses and have been considered as therapeutic targets for human diseases. Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPA1) is a receptor for bioactive lysophospholipid, LPA. LPA/LPA1-mediated signaling contributes to inflammatory and fibrotic responses in lung diseases; thus understanding regulation of LPA1 stability is important for modulating LPA/LPA1 signaling. Our previous study has shown that LPA1 is degraded in the Nedd4 like (Nedd4L) E3 ubiquitin ligase-mediated ubiquitin-proteasome system. In the current study, we attempt to identify a peptide that stabilizes LPA1 through disrupting LPA1 association with Nedd4L. LPA treatment induces both endogenous and overexpressed LPA1 degradation, which is attenuated by a proteasome inhibitor, suggesting that LPA1 is degraded in the proteasome. LPA increases phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) and I-κB kinase in lung epithelial cells, and this effect is promoted by overexpression of a peptide (P1) that mimics C-terminal of LPA1. P1, not a control peptide, attenuates LPA-induced LPA1 ubiquitination and degradation, suggesting that P1 stabilizes LPA1. Further, P1 diminishes Nedd4L-mediated degradation of LPA1 and Nedd4L/LPA1 association. In addition to increasing LPA1 signaling, P1 enhances LPA-induced cell migration and gene expression of Elafin, matrix metallopeptidase 1, and serpin family B member 2 in lung epithelial cells. These data suggest that disruption of LPA1 interaction with Nedd4L by P1 increases LPA1 stability and LPA/LPA1 signaling.