Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are structural components of membrane phospholipids, and influence cellular function via effects on membrane properties, and also by acting as a precursor pool for lipid mediators. These lipid mediators are formed via activation of pathways involving at least one step of dioxygen-dependent oxidation, and are consequently called oxylipins. Their biosynthesis can be either enzymatically-dependent, utilising the promiscuous cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, or cytochrome P450 mixed function oxidase pathways, or nonenzymatic via free radical-catalyzed pathways. The oxylipins include the classical eicosanoids, comprising prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes, and also more recently identified lipid mediators. With the advent of new technologies there is growing interest in identifying these different lipid mediators and characterising their roles in health and disease. This review brings together contributions from some of those at the forefront of research into lipid mediators, who provide brief introductions and summaries of current understanding of the structure and functions of the main classes of nonclassical oxylipins. The topics covered include omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA biosynthesis pathways, focusing on the roles of the different fatty acid desaturase enzymes, oxidized linoleic acid metabolites, omega-3 PUFA-derived specialized pro-resolving mediators, elovanoids, nonenzymatically oxidized PUFAs, and fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids.

多不饱和脂肪酸 (PUFA) 是膜磷脂的结构成分，通过对膜特性的影响以及作为脂质介质的前体池来影响细胞功能。这些脂质介质是通过激活涉及至少一个依赖分子氧的氧化步骤的途径形成的，因此被称为氧脂质。它们的生物合成可以是酶依赖性的，利用混杂的环加氧酶、脂氧合酶或细胞色素 P450 混合功能氧化酶途径，或通过自由基催化途径进行非酶合成。oxylipins 包括经典的类花生酸，包括前列腺素、血栓素和白三烯，以及最近发现的脂质介质。随着新技术的出现，人们越来越关注识别这些不同的脂质介质并描述它们在健康和疾病中的作用。这篇综述汇集了一些处于脂质介质研究前沿的研究人员的贡献，他们简要介绍和总结了当前对非经典脂类主要类别的结构和功能的理解。涵盖的主题包括 omega-3 和 omega-6 PUFA 生物合成途径，重点关注不同脂肪酸去饱和酶、氧化亚油酸代谢物、omega-3 PUFA 衍生的专门的促分解介质、类胡萝卜素、非酶氧化 PUFA、和羟基脂肪酸的脂肪酸酯。这篇综述汇集了一些处于脂质介质研究前沿的研究人员的贡献，他们简要介绍和总结了当前对非经典脂类主要类别的结构和功能的理解。涵盖的主题包括 omega-3 和 omega-6 PUFA 生物合成途径，重点关注不同脂肪酸去饱和酶、氧化亚油酸代谢物、omega-3 PUFA 衍生的专门的促分解介质、类胡萝卜素、非酶氧化 PUFA、和羟基脂肪酸的脂肪酸酯。这篇综述汇集了一些处于脂质介质研究前沿的研究人员的贡献，他们简要介绍和总结了当前对非经典脂类主要类别的结构和功能的理解。涵盖的主题包括 omega-3 和 omega-6 PUFA 生物合成途径，重点关注不同脂肪酸去饱和酶、氧化亚油酸代谢物、omega-3 PUFA 衍生的专门的促分解介质、类胡萝卜素、非酶氧化 PUFA、和羟基脂肪酸的脂肪酸酯。