Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Phospholipase A2 enzymes.

Ichiro Kudo1, Makoto Murakami

  • 1Department of Health Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan. kudo@pharm.showa-u.ac.jp

Prostaglandins & Other Lipid Mediators
|November 16, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes initiate the production of lipid mediators like arachidonic acid (AA) and lysophospholipids. Different PLA2 families, including secretory, cytosolic, and Ca2+-independent types, play varied roles in inflammation and phospholipid metabolism.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

PLA2G12A-driven extracellular vesicle-lipid signaling amplifies pathogenic T cell responses in inflammatory diseases.

Cell reports·2026
Same author

Secreted phospholipase PLA2G5 acts as a hemolytic factor in sepsis.

The Journal of clinical investigation·2026
Same author

MRI Findings of Ovarian Carcinosarcoma: A Retrospective Comparison With Endometrioid Carcinoma.

Cureus·2026
Same author

EBV promotes alveolar trabecula resorption via extracellular vesicle remodeling by group IIA secreted phospholipase A<sub>2</sub>.

Journal of lipid research·2026
Same author

5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and 12-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid regulate basophil and mast cell activation and basophil recruitment in chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Allergology international : official journal of the Japanese Society of Allergology·2026
Same author

Prostaglandin D2 axis impairs immunity against melanoma via dendritic cells and γδ T cells in middle-aged mice.

Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)·2025

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Lipid Metabolism

Background:

  • Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes are crucial for hydrolyzing membrane glycerophospholipids.
  • This reaction releases arachidonic acid (AA), a precursor to eicosanoids, and lysophospholipids, both significant lipid mediators.
  • Mammals possess at least 19 identified PLA2 enzymes, categorized into secretory (sPLA2), cytosolic (cPLA2), Ca2+-independent (iPLA2), and platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) families.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of the diverse PLA2 enzyme families and their functions.
  • To highlight the roles of specific PLA2 types in biological processes such as inflammation and phospholipid remodeling.
  • To underscore the significance of PLA2 activity in metabolic pathways and disease states.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on PLA2 enzymes.
  • Classification of PLA2 enzymes based on their localization, regulation, and substrate specificity.
  • Analysis of the biological implications of PLA2 activity in various physiological and pathological contexts.

Main Results:

  • The secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) family, with 10 isozymes, is involved in eicosanoid generation, inflammation, and host defense.
  • Cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2)alpha is critical for initiating AA metabolism and is regulated by calcium and phosphorylation.
  • Ca2+-independent PLA2 (iPLA2) enzymes are implicated in phospholipid remodeling, while PAF-AH enzymes degrade bioactive phospholipids, potentially resolving inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Conclusions:

  • PLA2 enzymes represent a diverse group of lipid-modifying enzymes with critical roles in cellular signaling and homeostasis.
  • Understanding the distinct functions of sPLA2, cPLA2, iPLA2, and PAF-AH families is essential for elucidating their involvement in inflammatory and metabolic diseases.
  • Targeting specific PLA2 enzymes may offer therapeutic strategies for conditions associated with aberrant lipid mediator production.