Modeling Anorexia Nervosa

Although the pathophysiology underlying anorexia nervosa (AN) has not been fully elucidated, inflammation appears to be a critical component of its course and progression. Eicosanoids (eiCs) are bioactive signaling lipids primarily derived from arachidonic acid which have gained considerable biological relevance for their involvement in central and peripheral inflammatory processes. They were first described as pro-inflammatory mediators, and only afterward their anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution activities were also highlighted. Recent findings suggest that alterations in eiCs signaling could contribute to the dysregulated inflammatory status observed in AN. In this chapter we will first overview the most important immunological functions of the eiCs, including the regulation of neuroinflammatory processes, and then we will summarize the current knowledge on their possible implication in the pathophysiology of AN, with a focus on animal models.