Lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE) in health and disease: a narrative review of its pathophysiological mechanisms and translational potential as a biomarker

Lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE) is a key class of lysophospholipid molecules that play important roles in regulating cell membrane structure, signal transduction, and metabolic regulation. This review consolidates current knowledge on LysoPE’s molecular mechanisms, including its biosynthesis, membrane dynamics, and signaling via GPCRs, MAPK, and PI3K/AKT pathways. We critically analyze its context-dependent roles across major disease categories. In metabolic diseases, abnormal LysoPE levels are associated with lipid accumulation and insulin resistance. In the nervous system, LysoPE contributes to neuroinflammation while also exerting neurotrophic and protective effects through MAPK signaling. In tumor progression, LysoPE exhibits tissue-specific pro-migratory or inhibitory effects. LysoPE also shows pathological relevance in cardiovascular diseases, infections, and immune abnormalities. Based on disease-specific expression changes, LysoPE has shown promise as a candidate diagnostic biomarker in preliminary studies, with demonstrated value in treatment efficacy evaluation and prognosis prediction. However, large-scale prospective validation is required before clinical application. Future research should integrate multi-omics technologies and clinical validation to further elucidate its molecular mechanisms and promote its application in precision medicine.