Phospholipases A2 (PLA2's) are a class of enzymes which catalyze the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids at the sn-2 position to release fatty acids and lysophospholipids. When the fatty acid is arachidonic acid, further metabolism leads to proinflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes and platelet activating factor (PAF). The low molecular weight (14 kDa), Ca2+-dependent, extracellular PLAis found in mammalian ...