Determination of Phospholipase A2s Expression in Mast Cells by Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

The release of arachidonic acid (AA) from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂ ) is a critical step in the generation of lipid mediators by mast cells. AA released by PLA₂ activity is metabolized to bioactive compounds, such as prostaglandins, thromboxane, and leukotrienes. During the last decade, several mammalian PLA2s have been shown to play a role in the mobilization of AA from phospholipids. At least ten different PLA₂ types have been described (1 ,2 ). In general, these consist of secretory, cytosolic, or membrane bound activities.