Cellular stress triggers chronic inflammation

Previously, oxPLs were considered harmless by‑products of oxidative stress. Today, scientists view them differently: they are potent bioactive molecules capable of binding to receptors on immune cells and triggering intracellular signaling pathways. As a result, cellular homeostasis is disrupted, chronic inflammation is sustained, and the development of serious conditions—from aging to life‑threatening diseases—is accelerated.

OxPLs arise spontaneously under normal cellular stress. For example, when a cell membrane is exposed to oxidative stress, oxidized lipids form in it. They quickly become highly reactive and begin to affect metabolism, the functions of immune cells, and even the fate of the cell itself. The effect depends on the molecular structure and cellular targets: some types of oxPLs can trigger protective responses, while their accumulation, on the contrary, sustains inflammation and leads to tissue damage.

The role of these molecules in tumor development is particularly alarming. In an aggressive tumor environment, oxPLs accumulate in large quantities and actively alter the behavior of cancer cells: they suppress neighboring T cells and help the malignant tumor evade immune control.

Researchers associate the accumulation of oxPLs with a wide range of severe conditions: various forms of cancer, metabolic disorders, infections, asthma, inflammatory bowel diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and pain syndromes. At the same time, the duality of these molecules means that the short‑term appearance of oxPLs may be part of a normal protective response, but their excess becomes a factor in the progression of the disease.

Unfortunately, science is still unable to fully uncover all the properties of these molecules. Existing tissue analysis methods have limitations, and the authors of the review call for the development of more precise technologies, such as high‑resolution lipidomics and chiral chromatography. Such methods will help distinguish individual lipid structures and determine the functions of specific oxPLs in different types of tissues.

If scientists manage to learn how to accurately decipher and control these molecules, this will open the way to fundamentally new targeted therapies, as it will be possible to selectively block pathogenic lipid oxidation or its consequences. This could help in the fight against chronic diseases, aggressive tumors, and even slow down certain aging processes.