Occurrence of prostaglandins and other eicosanoids in parasites and their role in host-parasite interaction

Prostaglandins have been already pretty well rccognized as metabolic regulators in vertebebrata tissues mainly in mammals. Less reports concerned the occurrence of prostaglandins in invertebrates. In the present review we summarise literature data about the presence of prostaglandins and other eicosanoids in various groups of parasites and their possible role in hostparasite interaction. Prostaglandins have also been found in very primitive organisms as bacteria, varions plants and protozoa. We summarise that prostaglandins seem to be a very ancient group, going back to the roots of evolution. They are as universal in cell physiology as DNA in genetics. In host-parasiter eicosanoids also parasitic origin, play an important role as a modulators of hosts immune responsiveness.