Phospholipase A2--a mediator between proximal and distal effectors of inflammation

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is known to play an important intracellular role in inflammatory processes but does it also perform a vital function extracellularly? Here, W. Pruzanski and P. Vadas marshall the evidence supporting PLA2 as a mediator of inflammation, specifically in linking local and systemic effects.