Summary
This Chemical Reviews article synthesises current understanding of octadecanoids—oxygenated 18-carbon fatty acid metabolites—across mammalian, bacterial and fungal biology. Whilst octadecanoids are well-characterised plant signalling molecules, the review documents their emerging roles in mammalian inflammation, immunity, coagulation and tissue homeostasis, alongside newer evidence for gut microbiota as significant biosynthetic sources. The authors propose standardised nomenclature, detail analytical and preparative methods, and discuss potential biomarker applications in pathophysiology.
Regional applicability
This is a biochemical and mechanistic review without geographic specificity or field application focus. Its findings on octadecanoid metabolism and bioactivity are applicable internationally, though UK clinical and nutritional research may find utility in the proposed biomarker framework and standardised nomenclature for future dietary and health studies.
Key measures
Octadecanoid chemical structures, biosynthetic enzymatic pathways (COX, LOX, CYP, hydratase), biological activity mechanisms, measurement and preparation methods
Outcomes reported
The review characterises octadecanoid biosynthetic pathways and their enzymatic origins (COX, LOX, CYP) across mammalian, bacterial and fungal systems, and summarises their biological roles in inflammation, immunity, tissue modulation, coagulation and hormone regulation. It proposes standardised nomenclature and describes potential use of octadecanoids as biomarkers of health and disease.
Topic tags
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