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Eicosanoid levels refers collectively to concentrations of
bioactive lipid mediators derived mainly from arachidonic acid and other
polyunsaturated fatty acids, including prostaglandins, thromboxanes,
leukotrienes, lipoxins, HETEs and related oxylipins. Eicosanoids regulate
inflammation, vascular tone, platelet activity, immune signalling, cell
proliferation, migration and tissue repair. In cancer and neurodegenerative
disease, total or individual eicosanoid levels may be altered, but the biological
meaning is highly dependent on which specific lipid mediators are increased or
decreased. Specific mediators such as PGE2, LTB4, 5-HETE or 12-HETE, are more important than the broader eicosanoid-level entry.
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