Phospholipase A2 as a modulator of infection, inflammation, and immunity

Inflammation is an important cellular event that plays a significant role in several diseases including but not limited to obesity, metabolic syndrome, cancer, the aging process, autoimmune diseases such as lupus, infections, and injury. Prostaglandins and other eicosanoids participate in inflammation and its resolution. The precursors of various eicosanoids—dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—are released from the cell membrane lipid pool by the action of various phospholipases especially phospholipase A2 (PLA). GLA, DGLA, AA, EPA, and DHA and their various eicosanoids play a significant role in inactivating various microbes, inducing and resolving inflammation, and modulating immune response. Thus, PLA2 plays a role in infection, inflammation and its resolution, and immunity.