Various roles of lipids and lipid metabolizing enzymes in inflammatory processes and their possible implications for...

Even though therapeutic approaches using specific receptor antagonists are attractive as a means of controlling allergic and nonallergic inflammation in the lung, rapidly increasing evidence that allergic mediators are involved in the overall control of immune responsiveness raises concerns as to possible unexpected effects of such therapy. Agents directed toward specific enzymes involved either in the release or metabolism of arachidonic acid raise additional possibilities in regard to possible interference with normal intracellular signaling processes where lipids, including some of arachidonatic metabolites themselves, appear to participate at a number of different levels. Studies with anti-inflammatory agents therefore need to be interpreted cautiously with due cognizance of the possible complexities of agent action, of possible interactions between mediators, and of longer term changes in immune function and resistance that may be being initiated.