UC San Diego

Key PointsInfection and injury cause controlled immune and inflammatory responses involving complex molecular signalling networks that lead to the production of bioactive lipid mediators.Eicosanoids are bioactive lipid mediators derived from oxygenated polyunsaturated fatty acids.Similar to cytokine signalling and inflammasome formation, eicosanoid signalling has been viewed primarily as a pro-inflammatory component of innate immunity.Recent advances in lipidomics technologies have helped to elucidate unique eicosanoids and related docosanoids with anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution functions that are a key component of the inflammatory response.Receptor activation initiated by Toll-like receptors (TLRs), purinergic receptors and other signalling pathways induced by infectious agents generates both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory metabolites resulting in an eicosanoid storm.Lipidomics has advanced our overall understanding of the inflammatory response and its therapeutic implications, and has suggested new pharmacological approaches.