Inflammatory responses result in the expression and activation of pro‐oxidant enzymes such as the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NAPDH oxidases, leading to the generation of the nitrating species nitrogen dioxide (•NO2). Conjugated linoleic acid is a primary substrate for biological lipid nitration in the gastric compartment giving rise to the formation of conjugated nitro‐linoleic acid (NO2‐CLA). NO2‐CLA exhibit reversible electrophilic reactivity and interact covalently with nucleophilic cysteines in proteins and low molecular weight compounds. This reactivity is pivotal for their biological actions including Nrf2 induction, partial PPARγ agonism, heat shock response activation and TLR4/NF‐κB/STAT1 inhibition. Herein we show that macrophage activation leads to NO2‐CLA formation both in vitro and in vivo, as characterized by high resolution mass spectrometry and quantified using isotopic dilution HPLC‐MSMS. CLA nitration by activated RAW264.7 cells results not only in the dose‐ and time‐dependent formation of the parent NO2‐CLA compound but also in the generation of secondary electrophilic and non‐electrophilic b‐oxidation metabolites. The formation of two positional isomers 9‐NO2‐CLA and 12‐NO2‐CLA with different metabolization rates but similar signaling potency was also observed. Addition of either mixed or pure NO2‐CLA positional isomers to cells in culture led to antioxidant response element (ARE) activation and to dose‐dependent expression of Nrf2‐regulated genes. Similarly, NO2‐CLA attenuated TNF‐a mediated NF‐kB response element activation and decreased iNOS expression and pro‐inflammatory cytokine release in LPS/IFN‐g activated RAW264.7 cells. To assess the physiological relevance of these observations, a mouse zymosan A peritonitis model that promotes CLA nitration was utilized. Animals were administered vehicle, or synthetic NO2‐CLA and then inflammatory cell recruitment and clearance from the peritoneal cavity was monitored. NO2‐CLA administration led to decreased recruitment as assessed by flow cytometry. Our work demonstrates that NO2‐CLA generation might constitute an endogenous adaptive mechanism capable of modulating the severity of the inflammatory response by favoring resolution and inducing the expression of both cytoprotective and antioxidant genes.Support or Funding InformationThis study was supported by NIH grants R01‐HL123333 (LV), R01‐AT006822 (FJS) and K01‐HL133331 (DAV), and AHA #14GRNT20170024 (FJS).