Esterified eicosanoids: generation, characterization and function.

Eicosanoids are oxidation products of C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g. arachidonic acid) that include prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes and hydroperoxy fatty acids. They have important biological roles in vivo, including regulation of renal, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function. Historically, eicosanoids were thought to mediate their signaling actions exclusively as free acids, however evidence is now emerging that they may also be generated attached to other functional groups including phospholipids and glycerol, and that these more complex forms are pathophysiological signaling mediators in their own right. Early studies showed that exogenously added eicosanoids could become esterified into membrane phospholipids of cells, while more recently, it was uncovered that esterified eicosanoids are formed endogenously. This review summarizes our current knowledge of this area, starting with the early discoveries documenting what is known about eicosanoid generation and their esterification, and moving on to discuss the discovery that esterified eicosanoids are generated endogenously by a number of different cell types. Recent research that is highlighting new structures and functions of these important lipid mediators will be presented. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxidized phospholipids-their properties and interactions with proteins.