Rogue lipids: How routine cellular stress can fuel chronic inflammation
Oxidized lipids—fats structurally altered by enzymes, oxygen or free radicals—are double-edged swords that can both quell and ignite systemic inflammation, according to a new comprehensive review aimed at sharpening the overall understanding of an intricate class of highly reactive molecules.
Oxidized lipids, structurally altered by enzymes, oxygen or free radicals, exhibit a dual nature in their impact on systemic inflammation, according to a recent comprehensive review. These molecules, particularly oxidized phospholipids (oxPLs), can both suppress and ignite inflammation, depending on their molecular structure and cellular targets.
Dr. Marco Di Gioia and Dr. Ivan Zanoni, from Harvard Medical School, delve into the intricate world of oxPLs, highlighting their dual role in health and disease. These molecules, formed as a result of routine cellular stress, can either be benign or highly reactive, playing a significant role in various diseases. The review emphasizes the importance of oxPLs in inflammation, immune cell functions, and cell fate, and their accumulation during inflammation affects cellular metabolism.
The authors argue that current analytical techniques are insufficient to fully understand these molecules, calling for advancements in technology to decode and control the molecular double-edged sword of lipid oxidation.
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