Oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids
by lipoxygenases leads to a variety of fatty acid metabolites which play
important roles in physiology but also in pathophysiology. Data
accumulated during the last decade point to the fact that lipoxygenase
metabolites are involved in host defence reactions, cardiovascular system
and contribute to the development of inflammatory and allergic diseases,
cardiovascular disease and cancer. This PIR volume summarizes the
physiological and pathophysiological functions of
lipoxygenases.