2 Neurofibromin-Deficient Schwann Cells Have Increased Lysophosphatidic Acid Dependent Survival and Migration – Implications for Increased Neurofibroma Formation and Growth During Pregnancy.

Background: During pregnancy, neurofibromas often enlarge or develop for the first time in females with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a prototypic lysophospholipid that has been implicated in tumor progression. LPA modulates cell migration and survival of Schwann cells (SCs), and interestingly, LPA is made in increasing concentrations throughout pregnancy. SCs are the tumorigenic cells in the development of neurofibromas in NF1. Given the temporal nature of LPA production and neurofibroma formation during pregnancy, we hypothesized that LPA may be a candidate molecule that promotes Schwann cell (SC) migration and survival and potentially plays a role in the increase in neurofibroma formation during pregnancy.