Oxidized Phospholipids: Introduction and Biological Significance

Abstract

Phospholipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids are highly prone to modification by reactive oxygen species. They tend to undergo lipid peroxidation to form OxPLs which induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis and plays a significant role in inflammation. There are reports that provide insights for involvement of OxPLs in interleukin transcription, phenotype switching of smooth muscle cells and apoptotic mechanisms of the modified phospholipids. Thus peroxidation greatly alters the physiochemical properties of membrane lipid bilayers and consequently induces signaling depending upon the formation or reorganization of membrane domains or specific molecular binding (Deigner et al, 2008). Distinct OxPLs species may interact with specific binding sites and receptors leading to the activation of individual signaling pathways.