Abstract
Biological functions of lipids include (1) energy storage, (2) main structural components of cell membranes, and (3) signaling molecules such as lipid mediators. Lipid mediators represent a class of bioactive lipids that are produced locally through specific biosynthetic pathways in response to extracellular stimuli. Their biosynthesis is initiated by release of fatty acids and lysophospholipids from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes. PLA2s are involved in many physiological processes, and their dysregulations are often linked to various diseases such as inflammation, infertility, atherosclerosis, and cancer. In this article, we will give an overview of recent knowledge of several diseases in which particular lipid networks regulated by PLA2s have critical roles.
