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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Leukemia. 2010 Sep 30;24(12):1993–2002. doi: 10.1038/leu.2010.216

Figure 1. Schematic of eicosanoid biosynthesis.

Figure 1

Activation of c-phospholipase A2 releases arachidonic acid from phospholipids. Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which can be inhibited by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), convert arachidonic acid into the Prostaglandin H2 intermediate, which is then converted to the various prostaglandins by distinct prostaglandin synthases . Similarly, 5- lipoxygenase (5-LOX) converts arachidonic acid into Leukotriene A4 (LTA4) and then synthesis proceeds to the various leukotrienes. Endocannabinoid (2-Arachidonoylglycercol) is catabolized by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) or monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) and can be converted into alternate prostaglandin forms.