Eicosanoid Metabolites

Eicosanoids are a family of signaling molecules produced and secreted from many cells types under normal and pathophysiological conditions. In humans these metabolites are excreted to body fluids, such as plasma and urine. Precursors are 20-carbon PUFAs such as arachidonic acid (C20:4) esterified to phospholipids of cell membranes. Fatty acids (FAs) are mobilized from phospholipids by phospholipase A2 before they are available for further metabolism to eicosanoids. Therefore, FA membrane composition (i.e., the PUFA content) is cell type specific and therefore is crucial for cellular functions and influenced by nutrition.