Secreted phospholipases A₂ (sPLA₂s) form a widespread group of structurally-related enzymes that catalyse the hydrolysis of the sn-2 ester bond of glycerophospholipids to produce free fatty acids and lysophospholipids. In humans, nine catalytically active and two inactive sPLA₂ proteins have been identified. These enzymes play diverse biological roles, including host defence against bacteria, parasites and viruses. Several of these endogenous sPLA₂s may play a defensive role in viral infections, as they display in vitro antiviral activity by both direct and indirect mechanisms. However, endogenous sPLA₂s may also exert an offensive and negative role, dampening the antiviral response or promoting inflammation in animal models of viral infection. Similarly, several exogenous sPLA₂s, most of them from snake venoms and other animal venoms, possess in vitro antiviral activities. Thus, both endogenous and exogenous sPLA₂s may be exploited for the development of new antiviral substances or as therapeutic targets for antagonistic drugs that may promote a more robust antiviral response. In this review, the antiviral versus proviral role of both endogenous and exogenous sPLA₂s against various viruses including coronaviruses is presented. Based on the highlighted developments in this area of research, possible directions of future investigation are envisaged. One of them is also a possibility of exploiting sPLA₂s as biological markers of the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

分泌型磷脂酶 A ₂ (sPLA _{2 s) 形成一组广泛存在的结构相关酶，催化甘油磷脂的}sn -2 酯键水解，产生游离脂肪酸和溶血磷脂。在人类中，已鉴定出九种具有催化活性的 sPLA _{2蛋白和两种无活性的 sPLA 2 蛋白。}这些酶发挥着多种生物学作用，包括宿主防御细菌、寄生虫和病毒。_{这些内源性 sPLA 2}中的一些可能在病毒感染中发挥防御作用，因为它们通过直接和间接机制表现出体外抗病毒活性。然而，内源性 sPLA ₂也可能发挥攻击性和负面作用，抑制病毒感染动物模型的抗病毒反应或促进炎症。同样，几种外源性 sPLA ₂（其中大部分来自蛇毒和其他动物毒液）具有体外抗病毒活性。因此，内源性和外源性 sPLA ₂都可用于开发新的抗病毒物质或作为拮抗药物的治疗靶点，从而促进更强大的抗病毒反应。在这篇综述中，介绍了内源性和外源性 sPLA ₂对包括冠状病毒在内的各种病毒的抗病毒与前病毒作用。根据该研究领域的突出进展，设想了未来研究的可能方向。其中之一是利用 sPLA ₂作为 SARS-CoV-2 感染引起的 Covid-19 大流行严重程度的生物标记的可能性。