The pro- and anti-inflammatory activity of fatty acids

Inflammation is crucial to maintain homeostasis in the body. The contribution of fatty acids to the inflammatory process is exerted through a variety of mechanisms leading to cell surface modifications, activation of intracellular receptors that control inflammatory signaling processes, and changes in gene expression patterns. While long-chain saturated fatty acids induce NFkB pathway activation through TLR-4 binding, unsaturated fatty acids, such as monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and conjugated fatty acids’ antiinflammatory ability is mediated through PPARs or GPR120. Moreover, these unsaturated fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids, have immunomodulatory and cytoprotective potential, which is highly relevant for diseases with a neuroinflammatory component, such as obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and schizophrenia.