The inducible cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and prostaglandin (PG)E 2 production are distinctly regulated by several kinase pathways, most of which mediated by the NF-κB activation, in peritoneal macrophages stimulated by the snake venom secreted phospholipase A 2 (sPLA 2) myotoxin (MT)-III. However, the mechanism by which this group IIA sPLA 2 exerts its inflammatory effect on macrophages is not fully understood. Increasing evidence suggest that 12-HETE, a product from arachidonic acid metabolism by 12-LO activation, is implicated in amplifying inflammation by regulating cell functions. In the present study the crosswise link between 12-HETE and MT-III-induced COX-2 and PGE 2 release, associated to signaling pathways mediated by p38MAPK, PKC, ERK and NF-κB, were investigated. Results demonstrated that stimulation of isolated macrophages with MT-III cause activation of 12-LO in a time-dependent manner, with significant release of 12-HETE and without modification of 12-LO protein levels. The involvement of 12-HETE in MT-III-induced COX-2 expression and PGE 2 production was demonstrated by using the selective 12-LO inhibitor baicalein. A significant decrease in the phosphorylation levels of MT-III-induced ERK1/2, but not of p38MAPK nor PKC, was observed in macrophages pre-incubated with the 12-LO inhibitor. In turn, MT-III-induced COX-2 protein expression and PGE 2 release, but not NF-κB activation, were attenuated by pre-treating cells with PD98059, indicating the involvement of distinct pathways mediated by ERK in isolated macrophages. These results suggest that, in macrophages, MT-III-induced COX-2 protein expression and PGE 2 release are distinctly and sequentially mediated through 12-HETE followed by ERK pathway activation, but are independent on NF-κB activation. Taken together, our findings highlight an unprecedented mechanism by which 12-HETE regulates one of the distinct signaling pathways for MT-III-induced COX-2 expression and PGE 2 release in macrophages. These results provide new knowledge on the proinflammatory mechanisms of action of group IIA sPLA 2 from snake venom.