During the past decades, intensive collaborative research in the fields of chronic and acute inflammatory disorders has resulted in a better understanding of the pathophysiology and diagnosis of these diseases. Modern therapeutic approaches remain unsatisfactory and shock, sepsis and multiple organ failure (MOF) are still a great challenge in intensive care medicine. Furthermore, treatment of inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis or psoriasis represents an unresolved problem as well. Many factors contribute to the complex course of inflammatory reactions. Microbiological, immunological and toxic agents are able to initiate the inflammatory response by activating a variety of humoural and cellular mediators. In the early phase of inflammation interleukins and lipid-mediators are excessively released and play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of organ dysfunction. Cellular lipid membranes represent a dynamic high turnover barrier system, wh (more…)