Phospholipase A2 catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 position of membrane glycerophospholipids to liberate arachidonic acid, a precursor of eicosanoids including prostaglandins and leukotrienes.
This enzyme has been proposed to hydrolyze phosphatidylcholine in lipoproteins to liberate lyso-PC and free fatty acids in the arterial wall, thereby facilitating the accumulation of bioactive lipids and modified lipoproteins in atherosclerotic foci.
Phospholipase A2 IIA can exert beneficial action in the context of infectious diseases since recent studies have shown that this enzyme exhibits potent bactericidal effects. Induction of the synthesis of Phospholipase A2 IIA is generally initiated by endotoxin and a limited number of cytokines via paracrine and/or autocrine processes.