[Phospholipase A2: characteristics and function]

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) hydrolyses membrane phospholipids (PL) and it may release arachidonic acid (AA)--the precursor of eicosanoids--from the sn-2 position. PLA2 and metabolites of its catalytic activity participate in many processes in the organism: metabolism of lipids, inflammation and immune reactions, membrane and tissue reparation, proliferation, and others. PLA2 as also an important element in the signal transduction. In the present article, PLA2 is characterised, classified into several types, and its mechanism of action together with its possible role in the disease processes are described. The attention is aimed at two forms of PLA2: The secretory (PLA2) of the type II which is associated with the inflammation injury, and the cytosolic PLA2 which is the main catalyst in the liberation of AA and which participates in the signal transduction. Other forms of PLA2 has been also described.