Lipids as targets for novel anti-inflammatory therapies.
Lipids serve important functions as membrane constituents and also as energy storing molecules. Besides these functions certain lipid species have now been recognized as signalling molecules that regulate a multitude of cellular responses including cell growth and death, and also inflammatory reactions. Bioactive lipids are generated by hydrolysis from membrane lipids mainly by phospholipases giving rise to fatty acids and lysophospholipids that either directly exert their function or are further converted to active mediators. This review will summarize the present knowledge about bioactive lipids that either promote or attenuate inflammatory reactions. These lipids include polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), eicosanoids including the epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EET), peroxisome proliferation activating receptor (PPAR) activators, cannabinoids and the sphingolipids ceramide, sphingosine 1-phosphate and sphingosylphosphorylcholine.
Huwiler
Andrea
A
Institut für Pharmakologie, Universität Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 49, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. Huwiler@pki.unibe.ch
Pfeilschifter
Josef
J
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D008055:Lipids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology*; D044045:Lipoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D064801:Phospholipase A2 Inhibitors; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018078:Receptors, Prostaglandin E / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D058309:Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002186:Cannabinoids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D008055:Lipids; D044045:Lipoxins; C545650:PTGER4 protein, human; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors; D064801:Phospholipase A2 Inhibitors; D018078:Receptors, Prostaglandin E; D058309:Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype; D013107:Sphingolipids; C005356:sphingosine phosphorylcholine; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; D013110:Sphingosine