Oxidative stress and arachidonic acid mobilization

Reactive oxygen species are known to contribute to tissue damage during injury and inflammation. However, these species can also be sensed by the cells and trigger intracellular signaling cascades. This review examines recent evidence on the involvement of reactive oxygen species in lipid signaling. Attention is focused on activation of phospholipase A2s, enzymes whose action on membrane phospholipids can also render molecules with opposite effects on cells. The participation of Ca2+-dependent and Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2s in arachidonic acid mobilization from phospholipids is discussed, with particular attention to the interplay between cytosolic and secreted Ca2+-dependent forms. The involvement of alternative routes for arachidonic acid mobilization under oxidative stress is also considered.