ELOVL7 is an endoplasmic reticulum-bound fatty acid elongase that catalyzes the rate-limiting step of long-chain fatty acid elongation, adding two carbons per cycle to substrates including C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids and other medium-chain acyl-CoAs 1. The enzyme shows highest activity toward C18:3(n-3) and C18:3(n-6) substrates, with minimal activity toward very long-chain fatty acids exceeding C22 2. ELOVL7 participates in synthesis of saturated and polyunsaturated VLCFAs that serve as membrane lipid and lipid mediator precursors 3. ELOVL7 has emerged as a disease-relevant factor in multiple conditions. In podocytopathy, ELOVL7 upregulation promotes polyunsaturated fatty acid elongation, leading to phospholipid accumulation with long-chain PUFA tails that sensitize podocytes to ferroptosis-mediated injury 1. In inflammatory contexts, ELOVL7 is upregulated in M1-like macrophages through NF-κB signaling and promotes IL-6 and IL-12/IL-23 p40 production 4. ELOVL7 genetic variation associates with anti-TNF therapy response in Crohn's disease through epigenetic regulation 5, and alternative splicing of ELOVL7 contributes to alcohol use disorder risk via neuroimmune pathways 6. Clinically, ELOVL7 represents a potential therapeutic target for diseases involving dysregulated fatty acid metabolism and inflammation.