Regulatory roles of bioactive lipids in vascular homeostasis and remodeling

Abstract

Bioactive lipids are low-abundance, rapidly acting signaling molecules that orchestrate vascular homeostasis and remodeling through a closed-loop cycle of synthesis, localization, receptor/effector sensing, and inactivation. This review delineates the major bioactive lipid classes - eicosanoids, lysophospholipids, sphingolipids, and sterol-derived mediators - linking their enzymatic pathways, transport mechanisms, receptor networks, and termination routes to vascular physiology and disease. Centered on vascular homeostasis and remodeling, we summarize the roles of bioactive lipids across atherosclerosis, aneurysms, hypertension, and thrombosis. Collectively, these findings underscore the pivotal role of bioactive lipid signaling in cardiovascular disease, suggesting that these pathways and receptors may serve as promising targets for diagnosis and therapy.