Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology 160 (eBook)

Endocannabinoids: synthesis and degradation 5
Endocannabinoids 5
Commonalities between anandamide and 2-AG anabolic and catabolic reactions 6
Anandamide biosynthesis: one or more pathways? 8
2-AG biosynthesis: perhaps less complicated than originally thought 10
Biosynthesis of NADA and other endocannabinoids: more questions than answers 12
The endocannabinoid membrane transporter: an “ unknown” between release and re- uptake 12
Fatty acid amide hydrolase: AEA degradation and beyond 14
2-AG degradation: redundancy again 15
Endocannabinoid oxidation and its possible role 17
Regulation of endocannabinoid levels: what is the target, biosynthesis or degradation? 18
Conclusions: new therapeutic drugs from studies of endocannabinoid synthesis and degradation 20
References 21
Biological effects of lysophospholipids 29
Introduction 29
S1P receptors 32
LPA receptors 39
Conclusions and future prospects 44
References 45
Lipoxins: update and impact of endogenous pro- resolution lipid mediators 51
Introduction 51
Lipoxin biosynthesis and metabolism 52
Resolvins 53
Metabolism 53
Bioactions of lipoxins 54
Mechanisms of lipoxin action: receptors and signalling pathways 55
Transcription factors involved in lipoxin A4 signalling 62
Lipoxins in inflammation and disease 63
Intestinal inflammation 64
Respiratory disease 65
Glomerulonephritis and renal diseases 65
Angiogenesis 66
Tuberculosis 67
Ocular wound healing 67
Conclusions 68
References 68
Multi-photon excitation imaging of dynamic processes in living cells and tissues 75
Introduction 76
Two-photon absorption and the two-photon microscope 77
Applications of two-photon microscopy 79
The future 91
References 93
Lipid homeostasis in macrophages – Implications for atherosclerosis 97
Macrophages and atherosclerosis 99
Differential expression of the monocyte innate immunity receptor complex defining monocyte subpopulations 101
Receptor entry pathways of modified LDL 103
Specific characteristics of E-LDL and Ox-LDL 105
Abnormalities of cholesterol trafficking 108
Cellular cholesterol metabolism and lipid storage 109
Cholesterol efflux from macrophages to prevent foam cell formation 111
ABCA1-interacting proteins and lipid membrane microdomains 113
Regulation of cellular cholesterol levels through transcription factors 115
Niacin, statins, CETP inhibitors, apoA-I mimetics, and ezetimibe as pharmacological modulators of lipid homeostasis 117
Conclusion 118
Glossary 119
References 120