Purpose of review: To highlight some of the recent advances related to the control of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) incorporation and remodeling in membrane glycerophospholipids in inflammatory cells.
Recent findings: Several enzymes have recently been identified that are associated with the control of PUFA incorporation and remodeling into membrane phospholipids and their release. The functional roles of the different enzyme isotypes in the control of PUFA availability for lipid mediator biosynthesis and cell signaling are only now being established. The expression of specific acyl-CoA synthetase, lysophospholipid acyltransferase and phospholipase A2 isotypes has recently been shown to have an impact on membrane PUFA content, on the production of lipid mediators and on inflammation.
Summary: A better understanding of the complex processes associated with the control PUFA remodeling in membrane phospholipids may lead to the discovery of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.