Lipoxygenase Metabolism: Critical Pathways in Microglia-mediated Neuroinflammation and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

As innate immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), microglia are involved in the physiological processes of the CNS, including neural development and maintenance of homeostasis, and in the occurrence and development of most CNS diseases. Lipoxygenases (LOXs) are a family of non-heme, iron-containing enzymes that generate lipid mediators that regulate cellular inflammation by catalyzing the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Many previous studies have demonstrated the indispensable role of the LOX pathway in microglia-mediated neuroinflammation, especially the 5-LOX and 12/15-LOX pathways. Emerging evidence indicates that the LOX pathway is also implicated in physiological processes, such as synaptic pruning and synaptic phagocytosis mediated by microglia, and that deficiency can contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders. The present review summarizes the impact of the LOX pathway on microglia-related physiological and pathological processes in the CNS and describes the potential for inhibition of the LOX pathway as a future strategy for the treatment of CNS diseases.