Accumulation of eicosapentaenoic acid in membranes of erythrocytes and leukocytes during alterative-exudative and allergic inflammation.

Children patients with alterative-exudative (gastrointestinal diseases) and allergic inflammation (bronchial asthma) exhibited similar changes in fatty acid composition of erythrocyte and leukocyte membranes. They included accumulation of considerable amounts of eicosapentaenoic acid and decrease in the content of docosahexaenoic acid (long-chain derivative of eicosapentaenoic acid). The accumulation of eicosapentaenoic acid and decrease in the content of docosahexaenoic acid in cell membranes probably play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases. It is related to a possible decrease in the formation of anti-inflammatory eicosanoids (series-5 leukotrienes) and protective compounds (resolvins and protectins) from fatty acids and changes in the physicochemical properties of cell membranes.