Macrophages are multi-faceted phagocytic effector cells that derive from circulating monocytes and undergo differentiation in target tissues to regulate key aspects of the inflammatory process. Macrophages produce and degrade a variety of lipid mediators that stimulate or suppress pain and inflammation. Among the analgesic and anti-inflammatory lipids released from these cells are the fatty acid ethanolamides (FAEs), which produce their effects by engaging nuclear peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α (PPAR-α). Two members of this lipid family, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA), have recently emerged as important intrinsic regulators of nociception and inflammation. These substances are released from the membrane precursor, N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE), by the action of a NAPE-specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), and in macrophage are primarily deactivated by the lysosomal cysteine amidase, N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA). NAPE-PLD and NAAA regulate FAE levels, exerting a tight control over the ability of these lipid mediators to recruit PPAR-α and attenuate the inflammatory response. This review summarizes recent findings on the contribution of the FAE-PPAR-α signaling complex in inflammation, and on NAAA inhibition as a novel mechanistic approach to treat chronic inflammatory disorders.

Inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) activity is under investigation as a valuable strategy for the treatment of several disorders, including pain and drug addiction. A number of potent FAAH inhibitors belonging to different chemical classes have been disclosed to date; O-aryl carbamates are one of the most representative families. In the search for novel FAAH inhibitors, a series of O-(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl carbamate derivatives were designed and synthesized exploiting a copper- catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction between azides and alkynes (click chemistry). Exploration of the structure-activity relationships within this new class of compounds identified potent inhibitors of both rat and human FAAH with IC50 values in the single-digit nanomolar range. In addition, these derivatives showed improved stability in rat plasma and kinetic solubility in buffer with respect to the lead compound. Based on the results of the study, the novel analogues identified can be considered to be promising starting point for the development of new FAAH inhibitors with improved drug-like properties.

The ceramides are a family of bioactive lipid-derived messengers involved in the control of cellular senescence, inflammation, and apoptosis. Ceramide hydrolysis by acid ceramidase (AC) stops the biological activity of these substances and influences survival and function of normal and neoplastic cells. Because of its central role in the ceramide metabolism, AC may offer a novel molecular target in disorders with dysfunctional ceramide-mediated signaling. Here, a class of benzoxazolone carboxamides is identified as the first potent and systemically active inhibitors of AC. Prototype members of this class inhibit AC with low nanomolar potency by covalent binding to the catalytic cysteine. Their metabolic stability and high in vivo efficacy suggest that these compounds may be used as probes to investigate the roles of ceramide in health and disease, and that this scaffold may represent a promising starting point for the development of novel therapeutic agents.

Fatty acid ethanolamides such as palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA) are lipid-derived mediators that potently inhibit pain and inflammation by ligating type-α peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR-α). These bioactive substances are preferentially degraded by the cysteine hydrolase, N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA), which is highly expressed in macrophages. Here, we describe a new class of β-lactam derivatives that are potent, selective, and systemically active inhibitors of intracellular NAAA activity. The prototype of this class deactivates NAAA by covalently binding the enzyme's catalytic cysteine and exerts profound anti-inflammatory effects in both mouse models and human macrophages. This agent may be used to probe the functions of NAAA in health and disease and as a starting point to discover better anti-inflammatory drugs.