Parasitic nematode fatty acid- and retinol-binding proteins compromise host immunity by interfering with host lipid signaling pathways
Fig 6
Key components of lipid biosynthesis in insects.
Our hypothesis is that FAR is sequestering essential fatty acids and/or their upstream lipids to disrupt lipid signaling that is necessary for certain host immune functions. We have shown FARs’ ability to bind to LA in vitro which could temporarily disrupt downstream eicosanoid signaling. In insects, phospholipase A2 cleaves linoleic acid (LA) from the lipid bilayer instead of arachidonic acid in mammals. Free LA is then extended via an elongase to a C20 fatty acid. Desaturase oxidizes the C20 to arachidonic acid which can then be oxygenated to yield eicosanoid-like molecules. Eicosanoids are involved in many important functions including gene expression, immune regulation and reproduction. Adapted [36].