Bacterial hydroxy fatty acids and alpha-hydroxy fatty acids have been demonstrated in complex lipid extracts of subgingival plaque and gingival tissue. However, little is known about the relationship between these hydroxy fatty acids in plaque and gingival tissues or the significance of these complex lipids in promoting inflammatory periodontal disease. The present study determined the percentages of ester-linked and amide-linked hydroxy fatty acids in complex lipids recovered from plaque and gingival tissue samples and the relationship between bacterial hydroxy fatty acids and alpha-hydroxy fatty acids in the lipid extracts. To evaluate a potential role for these hydroxy fatty acids in inflammatory periodontal disease, gingival tissue samples were examined for a relationship between prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and hydroxy fatty acids recovered in gingival lipid. This investigation demonstrated that alpha-hydroxy fatty acids are only ester linked in plaque lipids but are largely amide linked in gingival tissue lipids. Furthermore, the level of alpha-hydroxy fatty acid in gingival lipid is directly related to the level of the bacterial hydroxy fatty acid 3-OH iso-branched C17:0 (3-OH iC17:0) in the same lipid extract. However, the relationship between hydroxy fatty acids in gingival lipids does not parallel the fatty acid relationship observed in plaque lipids. Finally, alpha-hydroxy fatty acid levels in gingival tissue lipids correlate directly with the recovery of PGE2 in the same tissue samples. These results demonstrate that alpha-hydroxy fatty acid levels in gingival lipids are directly related to both 3-OH iC17:0 bacterial lipid levels and PGE2 levels. These results indicate that in periodontal tissues there are unusual host-parasite interactions involving penetration of bacterial lipid in association with an altered gingival lipid metabolism and prostaglandin synthesis.