Bioactive lipids as modulators of immunity, inflammation and emotions.

Author: Chiurchiù V1, Maccarrone M2
Affiliation:
1Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy; European Center for Brain Research, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: v.chiurchiu@hsantalucia.it.
2Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy; European Center for Brain Research, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: m.maccarrone@unicampus.it.
Conference/Journal: Curr Opin Pharmacol.
Date published: 2016 Jun 30
Other: Volume ID: 29 , Pages: 54-62 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2016.06.005. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 131


Lipids are not only constituents of cellular membranes but also key signaling mediators, thus acting as 'bioactive lipids'. Among the prominent roles exerted by bioactive lipids are immune regulation, inflammation and maintenance of homeostasis. Accumulated evidence indicates the existence of a bidirectional relationship between immune and nervous systems, whereby inflammatory mediators can directly modulate emotions that, in turn, can strongly influence immune responses, thus affecting health. This review summarizes current knowledge on the ability of several families of bioactive lipids to regulate immunity and inflammation (through pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory effects), as well as to control emotions and mood-related manifestations, advocating these substances as an attractive interface between 'mind' and 'body', and as a potential target to treat inflammatory/immune-mediated mood disorders.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PMID: 27372887 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2016.06.005

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