Inflammation is a local immune response to 'foreign' molecules, infect
ion and injury. Leukotriene B-4, a potent chemotactic agent that initi
ates, coordinates, sustains and amplifies the inflammatory response, i
s shown to be an activating ligand for the transcription factor PPAR a
lpha. Because PPAR alpha regulates the oxidative degradation of fatty
acids and their derivatives, like this lipid mediator, a feedback mech
anism is proposed that controls the duration of an inflammatory respon
se and the clearance of leukotriene B-4 in the liver. Thus PPAR alpha
offers a new route to the development of anti- or pro-inflammatory rea
gents.