Every cell in our body is surrounded by a cell membrane. The membrane controls how a particular cell interacts with its surrounding environment. The major building blocks for cell membranes are fat.

Immune cells use the fats within their membrane to produce cytokines. The membrane contains many different types of fats. A very select list of these fats can be converted into cytokines. The enzyme phospholipase A2 searches the membrane for appropriate fats. The fat it most commonly finds is AA.

Phospholipase A2 cuts AA from the membrane. In the process of cytokine formation AA is then acted upon by 1 of 2 main enzymes; cyclooxygenase (COX) or lipoxygenase. When cyclooxygenase acts upon AA the products are prostaglandins and thromboxanes. When lipoxygenase acts upon AA the products are leukotrienes.

All three classes of cytokines (prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes) contribute to the process of inflammation. They are found to be elevated in autoimmune diseases; arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, eczema, psoriasis, etc…

EPA and/ or DHA are also capable of being used by cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase for production of cytokines. In people who never or rarely consume fish the levels of these fats in cell membranes are extremely low. Eating fish on a regular basis, or supplementing EPA and DHA can very powerfully increase membrane levels of these fats.