Biological activities of isomers of 8,15-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid

Double dioxygenation by mouse 8S-lipoxygenase: Specific formation of a potent peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α agonist

Mouse 8S-lipoxygenase (8-LOX) metabolizes arachidonic acid (AA) specifically to 8S-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (8S-HPETE), which will be readily reduced under physiological circumstances to 8S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (8S-HETE), a natural agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha). Here, we investigated whether 8-LOX could further oxygenate AA and whether the products could activate PPARs. The purified recombinant 8-LOX converted AA exclusively to 8S-HPETE and then to (8S,15S)-dihydroperoxy-5Z,9E,11Z,13E-eicosatetraenoic acid (8S,15S-diHPETE). The kcat/Km values for 8S-HPETE and AA were 3.3x10(3) and 2.7x10(4) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. 8-LOX also dioxygenated 8S-HETE and 15S-H(P)ETE specifically to the corresponding 8S,15S-disubstituted derivatives. By contrast, 15-LOX-2, a human homologue of 8-LOX, produced 8S,15S-diH(P)ETE from 8S-H(P)ETE but not from AA nor 15S-H(P)ETE. 8S,15S-diHETE activated PPAR alpha more strongly than 8S-HETE did. The present results suggest that 8S,15S-diH(P)ETE as well as 8S-H(P)ETE would contribute to the physiological function of 8-LOX and also that 8-LOX can function as a potential 15-LOX.

Formation of 15-lipoxygenase product from docosahexaenoic acid (22:6w3) by human platelets

The metabolism of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6w3) by 15-lipoxygenase activity of washed human platelets was investigated. Platelets produced 17-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (HDHE) when incubated with 22:6w3. Similarly, 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) and 13- and 9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (HODD) were produced when incubated with 20:4w6 and 18:2w6, respectively. However, these products were observed only as minor components in the platelet incubation mixture. Control studies with carefully purified platelets and mononuclear cells indicated that these products were formed by the platelets. Chiral phase HPLC analysis indicated that these compounds were mainly in the S configuration with the exception of the 9-HODD, thus, confirming that a lipoxygenase is responsible for their production. The 9-HODD produced by platelets was a racemic mixture.

Role of the 15-lipoxygenase in the immune system

Recent data from our laboratory, as well as supporting evidence from other investigators, strongly suggest that the PMN 15-LO exists in a cryptic state. Several stimuli, including HETEs, can convert the inactive 15-LO to an active species that can metabolize AA to a variety of products. Many of these metabolites have been reported to modulate various components of the immune response.

Analysis of the stereochemistry of lipoxygenase-derived hydroxypolyenoic fatty acids by means of chiral phase high-pressure liquid chromatography

A chiral phase HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of the positional and optical isomers of the lipoxygenase-derived hydroxypolyenoic fatty acids. With a Bakerbond chiral phase HPLC column (dinitrobenzoyl phenylglycine as chiral phase) the positional and optical isomers of the reduced dioxygenation products (by triphenylphosphine or borohydride) of linoleic acid and arachidonic acid were separated after methylation of the carboxylic groups. No cumbersome chemical derivatization such as conversion to a diastereomer was necessary. As compared with the methods used up till now chiral phase HPLC proved to be simpler and more sensitive. About 10 pmol of hydroxy fatty acids suffice for an analysis. The chiral phase HPLC can be used for the preparative separation of the optical antipodes of the lipoxygenase products. An optical purity of more than 90% can be reached in one preparative run. The method was applied to the determination of the stereochemistry of the dioxygenation products of polyenoic fatty acids formed by the lipoxygenases from soybeans, reticulocytes, pea seeds (isoenzyme I and II), tomato fruits, by the quasilipoxygenase activity of hemoglobin, and by the methylene blue-mediated photooxidation of arachidonic acid.

Hyperalgesic properties of 15-lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid

Induction of hyperalgesia by leukotriene B4 (LTB4), a potent chemotactic factor for polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs), depends on the generation by cutaneous PMNLs of mediators that are probably derived from the 15-lipoxygenation of arachidonic acid. The capacity of dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (diHETE) products of the 15-lipoxygenation of arachidonic acid in PMNL to elicit hyperalgesia was evaluated by assessing the effects of intradermal injection of synthetic diHETEs on the pressure nociceptive threshold in rats. (8R,15S)-Dihydroxyeicosa-(5E-9,11,13Z)-tetraenoic acid [(8R,15S)-diHETE] produced a dose-dependent hyperalgesia, as measured by decrease in threshold for paw withdrawal. The isomer (8S,15S)-diHETE antagonized in a dose-dependent manner this hyperalgesia due to (8R,15S)-diHETE but did not suppress prostaglandin E2-induced hyperalgesia. (8S,15S)-DiHETE produced a dose-dependent hypoalgesia, as reflected by an increase in nociceptive threshold, suggesting a contribution of endogenous (8R,15S)-diHETE to normal nociceptive threshold. The hypoalgesic effect of (8S,15S)-diHETE was blocked by corticosteroids but not by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. Neither (8R,15S)-dihydroxyeicosa-(5,15E-9,11Z)-tetraenoic acid nor (8R,15S)-dihydroxyeicosa-(5,11E-9,13Z)-tetraenoic acid exhibited any hyperalgesic or hypoalgesic activity. The stereospecificity of the effect of (8R,15S)-diHETE suggests that the induction of hyperalgesia is a receptor-dependent phenomenon and that (8S,15S)-diHETE may be an effective receptor-directed antagonist. The (8R,15S)-diHETE and (8S,15S)-diHETE from PMNL, keratinocytes, and other epithelial cells may modulate normal primary afferent function and contribute to inflammatory hyperalgesia.