NEW ROLES FOR EICOSANOIDS AS REGULATORS OF EPITHELIAL FUNCTION AND GROWTH

Eicosanoids have been most often considered in the context of their ro le as intercellular signaling molecules. However, recent evidence poin ts to possible intracellular and/or autocrine roles of these compounds in a variety of cell systems. The evidence for such a signaling role in epithelial cells, as well as the possible modulation of this proces s that might occur in disease states, is summarized.