Transcellular Regulation of Eicosanoid Biosynthesis

The development of new and improved analytical methods for the study of eicosanoid biosynthesis has enabled researchers to identify and profile products that are generated by individual cell types in vitro. In vivo scenarios encountered in inflammation, thrombosis, atherosclerosis, asthma, and other multicellular events encompass an array of cell–cell interactions as well as a complex interplay of factors that include adhesion molecules, cytokines, lipid mediators, nitric oxide, and chemoattractants. It thus has become apparent that transcellular eicosanoid biosynthesis during these interactions is an important means to amplify production of and/or results in the formation of novel mediators that neither cell type can generate alone (1 –3 ).