Arachidonic acid in cell signaling.

Important advances have recently been made in our understanding of the arachidonic acid cascade. The molecular characterization of different forms of phospholipase A2 indicates that multiple pathways are involved in the release of arachidonic acid evoked by physiological or pathological stimuli. Moreover, studies on the expression of enzymes that metabolize arachidonic acid reveal the potential participation of the eicosanoids in central aspects of cell regulation, such as control of mitogenesis. Finally, cloning of the first eicosanoid receptors is a major step towards elucidating the diverse cellular functions exerted by these bioactive lipids.