2005. Mechanisms of Leukocyte Lipid Body Formation and Function

An area of increasingly interest for the understanding of cell signaling are the spatio-temporal aspects of the different enzymes involved in lipid mediator generation (eicosanoid-forming enzymes, phospholipases and their regulatory kinases and phosphatases) and pools of lipid precursors. The compartmentalization of signaling compo-nents within discrete and dynamic sites in the cell is critical for specificity and efficiency of enzymatic reactions of phosphorilation, enzyme activation and function. We hypothesized that lipid bodies – inducible non-membrane bound cytoplasmic lipid domains – function as specialized intracellular sites of compartmentalization of signaling with major roles in lipid mediator formation within leukocytes engaged in inflammatory process. Over the past years substantial progresses have been made demonstrating that all enzymes involved in eicosanoid synthesis localize at lipid bodies and lipid bodies are distinct sites for eicosanoid generation. Here we will review our current knowl-edge on the mechanisms of formation and functions of lipid bodies pertinent to inflammation. Key words: inflammation- lipid bodies- eicosanoids The cells of both innate and adaptive immune response express a great variety of receptors that transduce and integrate an enormous amount of information enabling the cells to mount effective immune responses. Over th