5-hydroxy-6-8-11-14-eicosatetraenoic-acid and Hypersensitivity

The family of eicasanoids, biologically active metabolites of polyunsaturated C20 fatty acids such as arachidonic acid, has recently been enlarged by the recognition of a new biosynthetic pathway leading to the leukotrienes, including the compounds described two decades ago as 'slow reacting substances'. These biologically potent substances are involved in regulation of the immune response and also as mediators in various disease states. This account presents a brief history of this field, an overview of the biological relevance of leukotrienes, and a discussion of the investigations which led to the clarification of the molecular structures, pathway of biosynthesis and total chemical synthesis of the leukotrienes, including leukotrienes A, B, C, D and E (LTA-LTE). As a result of the synthetic work these rare substances are available for the first time in pure form and in quantities sufficient for biological and medical studies. Also reviewed are recent discoveries with regard to the development of inhibitors of leukotriene biosynthesis and anti-leukotrienes.

Topics: Animals; Arachidonic Acids; Asthma; Autacoids; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Humans; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; Hypersensitivity; Leukotriene A4; Leukotriene B4; Leukotriene E4; Leukotrienes; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Macrophages; Mast Cells; Molecular Conformation; Neutrophils; SRS-A; Stereoisomerism; Structure-Activity Relationship

Amoxanox has potent antiallergic activity because it inhibits the release of chemical mediators such as histamine and leukotrienes. We studied the in vitro effect of amoxanox on arachidonic acid metabolism, including the lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways. Amoxanox inhibited calcium ionophore A23187-induced formation of 5-HETE, LTB4, SRS-A (LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4), and 12-HETE in rat peritoneal resident monocytes. These results indicate that amoxanox inhibits 5- and 12-lipoxygenases. The compound, however, did not affect the formation of TXB2 or 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in guinea pig lung fragments and PGE2 or PGF2 alpha in bovine seminal vesicles, suggesting that it did not inhibit cyclooxygenase. These results show that the antiallergic action of amoxanox is associated, at least in part, with the reduction of leukotrienes due to the inhibition of lipoxygenases.

Topics: 12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid; 5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraynoic Acid; Aminopyridines; Animals; Asthma; Calcimycin; Cattle; Guinea Pigs; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; Hypersensitivity; In Vitro Techniques; Leukotriene B4; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Lung; Male; Monocytes; Prostaglandins; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; SRS-A; Thromboxane B2

Topics: Animals; Arachidonic Acids; Autacoids; Basophils; Bronchi; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Guinea Pigs; Humans; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; Hypersensitivity; In Vitro Techniques; Inflammation; Mast Cells; Mice; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Smooth; Rats; SRS-A