15-Lipoxygenase products affect protein phosphorylation in Friend erythroleukemia cells

Endogenous arachidonic acid metabolism and protein phosphorylation have been examined in Friend erythroleukemia cells in response to the induction of differentiation by dimethyl sulfoxide and hexamethylene bisacetamide. 15-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid levels were elevated in cells differentiated with hexamethylene bisacetamide or dimethyl sulfoxide compared with undifferentiated cells. Protein phosphorylation decreased markedly in differentiated cells compared with undifferentiated cells and the addition of 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid specifically decreased the phosphorylation of a 28-kilodalton protein. These findings indicate that products of 15-lipoxygenase may act as intracellular messengers in Friend erythroleukemia cells by affecting protein phosphorylation.     

Activation of the Jun N-terminal kinase pathway by friend spleen focus-forming virus and its role in the growth and survival of friend virus-induced erythroleukemia cells

Members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, including Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), play an important role in the proliferation of erythroid cells in response to erythropoietin (Epo). Erythroid cells infected with the Friend spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV) proliferate in the absence of Epo and show constitutive activation of Epo signal transduction pathways. We previously demonstrated that the ERK pathway was constitutively activated in Friend SFFV-infected erythroid cells, and in this study JNK is also shown to be constitutively activated. Pharmacological inhibitors of both the ERK and JNK pathways stopped the proliferation of primary erythroleukemic cells from Friend SFFV-infected mice, with little induction of apoptosis, and furthermore blocked their ability to form Epo-independent colonies. However, only the JNK inhibitor blocked the proliferation of erythroleukemia cell lines derived from these mice. The JNK inhibitor caused significant apoptosis in these cell lines as well as an increase in the fraction of cells in G(2)/M and undergoing endoreduplication. In contrast, the growth of erythroleukemia cell lines derived from Friend murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-infected mice was inhibited by both the MEK and JNK inhibitors. JNK is important for AP1 activity, and we found that JNK inhibitor treatment reduced AP1 DNA-binding activity in primary erythroleukemic splenocytes from Friend SFFV-infected mice and in erythroleukemia cell lines from Friend MuLV-infected mice but did not alter AP1 DNA binding in erythroleukemia cell lines from Friend SFFV-infected mice. These data suggest that JNK plays an important role in cell proliferation and/or the survival of erythroleukemia cells.     

A possible naturally occurring tumor promoter, teleocidin B from Streptomyces.

Dihydroteleocidin B, a derivative of teleocidin B, when painted on mouse skin, caused marked induction of ornithine decarboxylase within 4 hrs. This induction of ornithine decarboxylase was inhibited by painting the skin with 13-cis-retinoic acid one hour before dihydroteleocidin B. Dihydroteleocidin B induced cell adhesion of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) to the surface of culture flasks, and inhibited terminal differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells induced by dimethyl sulfoxide. Its effective dose for these actions was comparable to that of the potent tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate. Teleocidin B seems to be a new type of promoter of carcinogenesis.     

Lipoxins: Eicosanoids carrying intra-and intercellular messages

The lipoxins are a recent addition to the family of biologically active products derived from arachidonic acid. Compounds of this series contain a conjugated tetraene structure and can be generated by the actions of the major lipoxygenases of human tissues (5-, 12-, and 15-LO's). Biosynthesis of the lipoxins from cellular sources of unesterified arachidonic acid is triggered by the initial actions of either the 15-LO or 5-LO followed by additional reactions. Recent results indicate that lipoxins are also generated by receptor-mediated events during cell-cell interactions with the transcellular metabolism of key intermediates. Lipoxin A₄ and lipoxin B₄ each possess a unique spectrum of biological activities unlike those of other eicosanoids in bothin vivo andin vitro systems. Lipoxin A₄ stimulates changes in the microvasculature and can block some of the proinflammatory effects of leukotrienes (in vivo). Lipoxin A₄ and lipoxin B₄ both inhibit natural killer cells (in vitro), and lipoxin B₄ displays selective actions on hematopoietic cells. The finding that lipoxin A₄ activates isolated protein kinase C suggests that it may also serve an intracellular role in its cell of origin before it is released to the extracellular milieu. Thus, cell-cell interactions, along with multiple oxygenations by lipoxygenases, generate compounds that can regulate cellular responses by serving as both intra- and intercellular messages.     

Friend erythroleukemia cells induce angiogenesis in chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane and in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

The effects of Friend erythroleukemia cells on angiogenesis were studied in chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay and in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In chorioallantoic membrane assay, the conditioned medium of Friend cells stimulated in vivo angiogenesis to an extent comparable to that observed with Prostaglandin El, used as positive control. Prostaglandin El added to conditioned medium of Friend cells did not further increase angiogenesis. Conditioned medium of Friend erythroleukemia cells also stimulated proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to an extent comparable to that observed with fetal bovine serum, used as positive control. Conditioned medium and fetal bovine serum together did not affect human umbilical vein endothelial cells proliferation, as compared to that observed when tested separately. These results seem to indicate that Friend erythroleukemia cells produce and secrete factors stimulating angiogenesis. These findings extend and confirm the hypothesis that successful angiogenesis is necessary for development of leukemias.     

Comparison of the effect of lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid on human natural killer cell cytotoxicity

We compared in vitro effect of lipoxygenase (LO) products derived from arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on cytotoxic activity of human natural killer (NK) cell against human erythroleukemia cell line K-562. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) derived from AA was found to significantly augment NK cell activity compared to the control level (in the absence of LTB). LTB5 showed a weak, but not significant, enhancing effect on NK cell activity. LTB4 was significantly more potent than LTB5 in the enhancement of NK cell activity. On the other hand, both 5- and 15-hydroperoxy fatty acids derived from AA and EPA significantly enhanced NK cell activity compared to the control level with similar potencies.     

Terminal differentiation in cultured Friend erythroleukemia cells.

Two populations of differentiated, hemoglobin-containing cells have been identified in cultures of Friend murine erythroleukemia cells (Friend cells): terminally differentiated benzidine-positive (B+) cells that are no longer capable of proliferation and are arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, and their precursors, traversing B+ cells which undergo two or three cell divisions before reaching their terminally differentiated state. Thus Friend cells in suspension culture retain a limited capacity to synthesize DNA and divide after commitment to erythroid differentiation. We identified terminally differentiated cells using autoradiography after benzidine staining. We also developed a quantitative flow microfluorometric assay to distinguish cells that are terminally differentiated from those cells committed to differentiation but still capable of proliferation.We developed a purification procedure to isolate terminally differentiated Friend cells. Their DNA content was the same as that of the undifferentiated cells in G1 by both the diphenylamine reaction and a fluorescence assay. No loss of DNA was detected during the differentiation of Friend cells. As many as 72% of the total cells in a culture induced with DMSO (88% B+) were differentiated cells arrested in G1. As a control, a DMSO-resistant line derived from 745A neither differentiated nor arrested in G1 after growth in the presence of DMSO. The results of these studies were obtained using several compounds that induce differentiation and three independently isolated clones of 745A. We also observed arrest of differentiated cells in G1 with the two other well characterized, independently derived erythroleukemia cell lines, F4-1 and T3-C1-2.     

Phorbol ester tumor promoters block the transition from the early to the heme-dependent late program of friend cell differentiation

In this study, the mechanism of inhibition of differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells by the phorbol ester tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), has been examined. These studies indicate that some early events associated with Friend cell differentiation, including an early change in ⁸⁶Rb⁺ transport and a decrease in cell volume, still occur in the presence of TPA. However, several late events in the program of Friend cell differentiation, including the induction of heme synthesis and the loss of proliferative capacity, are inhibited by TPA. These effects of TPA can be reversed by hemin, which alone does not induce Friend cells to differentiate. The addition of hemin to cultures grown in the presence of inducer plus TPA for several days results in the rapid restoration of hemoglobin synthesis, and also causes a parallel decrease in colony-forming ability. These results suggest that tumor promoters may inhibit only heme-dependent events, rather than the entire program of Friend cell differentiation.     

Cytochalasins enhance the proliferation of CD4 cells through the CD3-Ti antigen receptor complex or the CD2 molecule through an effect on early events of activation.

Cytochalasins are known to inhibit or enhance the proliferation of T cells induced by mitogens in a concentration-dependent fashion. To clarify the mechanism by which cytochalasins enhance T cell proliferation, we examined which activation pathways and events in signal transduction were affected by cytochalasins. We also examined subsets of CD4 cells for a preferential response to cytochalasins. Cytochalasins enhanced the proliferation of CD4 cells induced by optimal doses of anti-CD3 antibody or suboptimal doses of anti-CD2 antibodies. Cytochalasins, at low concentrations, enhanced the rise in intracellular Ca2+ and production of IP3 in CD4 cells activated by anti-CD2 or CD3 antibodies. Cytochalasins also enhanced the modulation of CD3 induced by anti-CD3 antibody. These results suggest that cytochalasins enhance the proliferation of CD4 cells by affecting early events in signal transduction after activation through the CD3-Ti Ag-receptor complex or CD2 molecule. At the doses used, cytochalasins appear to interact with cytochalasin-binding sites in the cell membrane. Cytochalasins predominantly enhanced CD3-mediated proliferation in the CD29-subset of CD4 cells.     

Alterations in the protein synthetic apparatus of Friend erythroleukemia cells infected with vesicular stomatitis virus or herpes simplex virus.

We have compared the effects of infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) on the protein synthetic apparatus of Friend erythroleukemia cells. Previous studies demonstrated that infection with HSV rapidly shuts off the synthesis of globin and other cellular polypeptides (Y. Nischioka and S. Silverstein, 1977, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74: 2370-2374). In contrast to these findings, globin synthesis persists in Friend erythroleukemia cells infected with VSV. Physical measurements of the size of bulk-infected cell mRNA, using hybridization with polyuridylic acid, demonstrated that there was no detectable change in the size of mRNA's after infection with VSV. A comparison of the kinetics of hybridization of cytoplasmic RNA extracted from cells infected with either HSV or VSV with globin complementary DNA revealed that by 4 h postinfection with HSV only about 15% of the globin mRNA sequences remained, whereas there was no discernible change in the sequence abundance of globin mRNA in VSV-infected cells.     

A dominant negative erythropoietin (EPO) receptor inhibits EPO-dependent growth and blocks F-gp55-dependent transformation.

The erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R), a member of the cytokine receptor superfamily, can be activated to signal cell growth by binding either EPO or F-gp55, the Friend spleen focus-forming virus glycoprotein. Activation by F-gp55 results in constitutive EPO-R signalling and the first stage of Friend virus-induced erythroleukemia. We have generated a truncated form of the EPO-R polypeptide [EPO-R(T)] which lacks the critical cytoplasmic signal-transducing domain of the EPO-R required for EPO- or F-gp55-induced cell growth. EPO-R(T) specifically inhibited the EPO-dependent growth of EPO-R-expressing Ba/F3 cells without changing the interleukin-3-dependent growth of these cells. In addition, Ba/F3 cells that coexpressed wild-type EPO-R and EPO-R(T) were resistant to transformation by F-gp55 despite efficient expression of the F-gp55 transforming oncoprotein in infected cells. EPO-R(T) inhibited the EPO-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of wild-type EPO-R, the tyrosine kinase (JAK2), and the SH2 adaptor protein (Shc). In conclusion, the EPO-R(T) polypeptide is a dominant negative polypeptide which specifically interferes with the early stages of EPO-R-mediated signal transduction and which prevents Friend virus transformation of erythroblasts.     

Dexamethasone-sensitive and -insensitive responses during in vitro differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells

We have investigated the mechanism(s) by which dexamethasone inhibit DMSO-induced Friend erythroleukemia cell differentiation in vitro. In particular, we examined the effects of dexamethasone on (a) the early events of differentiation such as cell volume alterations and 'memory response' and (b) the onset of biochemical events associated with terminal erythroid cell differentiation. By analysing kinetics of commitment of Friend cells to terminal erythroid differentiation on a clonal basis, we have observed that dexamethasone inhibited the completion of the latent period (time elapsed prior to commitment) and impaired "memory" (ability to inducer-treated cells to continue differentiation after a discontinuous exposure to inducer). Treatment of Friend cells with dexamethasone did not prevent the occurrence of DMSO-induced alterations in cell volume. However, dexamethasone treatment prevented a series of biochemical events associated with terminal Friend cell differentiation. These include the decrease in the rate of both cytoplasmic and nuclear RNA synthesis as well as the induction of cytidine deaminase activity and hemoglobin synthesis. These data indicate that the dexamethasone-sensitive process(es) operate during the early stages of Friend cell differentiation and that they are responsible for the inhibition of terminal erythroid maturation. These dexamethasone-sensitive processes, however, appear to be different from those regulating cell volume alterations during the early steps of DMSO-induced Friend cell differentiation.     

Lymphocyte Deficiencies Increase Susceptibility to Friend Virus-Induced Erythroleukemia in Fv-2 Genetically Resistant Mice

The study of genetic resistance to retroviral diseases provides insights into the mechanisms by which organisms overcome potentially lethal infections. Fv-2 resistance to Friend virus-induced erythroleukemia acts through nonimmunological mechanisms to prevent early virus spread, but it does not completely block infection. The current experiments were done to determine whether Fv-2 alone could provide resistance or whether immunological mechanisms were also required to bring infection under control. Fv-2-resistant mice that were CD4(+) T-cell deficient were able to restrict early virus replication and spread as well as normal Fv-2-resistant mice, but they could not maintain control and developed severe Friend virus-induced splenomegaly and erythroleukemia by 6 to 8 weeks postinfection. Mice deficient in CD8(+) T cells and, to a lesser extent, B cells were also susceptible to late Friend virus-induced disease. Thus, Fv-2 resistance does not independently prevent FV-induced erythroleukemia but works in concert with the immune system by limiting early infection long enough to allow virus-specific immunity time to develop and facilitate recovery.     

Involvement of the pathway phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT-1 in the establishment of the survival response to ionizing radiation

Ionizing radiation is one of the agents inducing activation of DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and cell death. Here we report evidence for an enhanced activity of DNA polymerase beta, one of the repair enzymes, concomitant to the activation of the pathway phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT-1 (PI-3-kinase/AKT-1), which delivers a survival signal in Friend erythroleukemia cells exposed to 15 Gy. Significantly, the preincubation of the cellls with PI-3-kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY 294002, disactivating this pathway, sensitizes the cells to ionizing radiation by further reducing the rate of proliferation without substantial variations of the number of dead cells. Thus, we suggest a role for these enzymes in maintaining survival programs upon exposure to ionizing radiation and in giving to these cells a chance to recover from this stress.     

15-Lipoxygenation of leukotriene A(4). Studies Of 12- and 15-lipoxygenase efficiency to catalyze lipoxin formation

The unstable epoxide leukotriene (LT) A(4) is a key intermediate in leukotriene biosynthesis, but may also be transformed to lipoxins via a second lipoxygenation at C-15. The capacity of various 12- and 15-lipoxygenases, including porcine leukocyte 12-lipoxygenase, a human recombinant platelet 12-lipoxygenase preparation, human platelet cytosolic fraction, rabbit reticulocyte 15-lipoxygenase, soybean 15-lipoxygenase and human eosinophil cytosolic fraction, to catalyze conversion of LTA(4) to lipoxins was investigated and standardized against the ability of the enzymes to transform arachidonic acid to 12- or 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETE), respectively. The highest ratio between the capacity to produce lipoxins and HETE (LX/HETE ratio) was obtained for porcine leukocyte 12-lipoxygenase with an LX/HETE ratio of 0.3. In addition, the human platelet 100000xg supernatant 12-lipoxygenase preparation and the human platelet recombinant 12-lipoxygenase and human eosinophil 100000xg supernatant 15-lipoxygenase preparation possessed considerable capacity to produce lipoxins (ratio 0.07, 0.01 and 0.02 respectively). In contrast, lipoxin formation by the rabbit reticulocyte and soybean 15-lipoxygenases was much less pronounced (LX/HETE ratios <0.002). Kinetic studies of the human lipoxygenases revealed lower apparent K(m) for LTA(4) (9-27 microM), as compared to the other lipoxygenases tested (58-83 microM). The recombinant human 12-lipoxygenase demonstrated the lowest K(m) value for LTA(4) (9 microM) whereas the porcine leukocyte 12-lipoxygenase had the highest V(max). The profile of products was identical, irrespective of the lipoxygenase used. Thus, LXA(4) and 6S-LXA(4) together with the all-trans LXA(4) and LXB(4) isomers were isolated. Production of LXB(4) was not observed with any of the lipoxygenases. The lipoxygenase inhibitor cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-alpha-cyanocinnamate was considerably more efficient to inhibit conversion of LTA(4) to lipoxins, as compared to the inhibitory effect on 12-HETE formation from arachidonic acid (IC(50) 1 and 50 microM, respectively) in the human platelet cytosolic fraction.     

Electron-spin resonance studies of lipid-modified microsomes from Friend erythroleukemia cells

The fatty acid composition of cultured Friend erythroleukemia cells was modified by supplementation of the medium with oleic or linoleic acid. There was a 30% reduction in saturated and a 35% reduction in polyunsaturated fatty acids in microsomal phospholipids when the cells were grown in media supplemented with oleic acid, and a 3-fold increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids when the cells were grown in linoleic acid-supplemented media. Electron-spin resonance studies with the 5-nitroxystearate probe demonstrated that there was no appreciable change in microsomal lipid mobility as measured by the order parameters. In contrast, changes in lipid mobility were detected with the spin-label probe when microsomes were first isolated from Friend erythroleukemia cells and subsequently modified by incubation with liposomes composed of either dioleoyl- or dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine plus bovine liver phospholipid-exchange protein. The fatty acid compositional changes produced in these microsomes were similar to those obtained when the intact cells were grown in media containing supplemental fatty acids. These findings indicate that the lipid mobility of Friend cell microsomes can be altered by phospholipid replacements in vitro, but that this does not occur when similar microsomal fatty acid modifications are produced during culture of the intact cell.     

Characterization of highly purified ornithine decarboxylase from rat heart

The fatty acid composition of cultured Friend erythroleukemia cells was modified by supplementation of the medium with oleic or linoleic acid. There was a 30% reduction in saturated and a 35% reduction in polyunsaturated fatty acids in microsomal phospholipids when the cells were grown in media supplemented with oleic acid, and a 3-fold increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids when the cells were grown in linoleic acid-supplemented media. Electron-spin resonance studies with the 5- nitroxystearate probe demonstrated that there was no appreciable change in microsomal lipid mobility as measured by the order parameters. In contrast, changes in lipid mobility were detected with the spin-label probe when microsomes were first isolated from Friend erythroleukemia cells and subsequently modified by incubation with liposomes composed of either dioleoyl- or dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine plus bovine liver phospholipid-exchange protein. The fatty acid compositional changes produced in these microsomes were similar to those obtained when the intact cells were grown in media containing supplemental fatty acids. These findings indicate that the lipid mobility of Friend cell microsomes can be altered by phospholipid replacements in vitro, but that this does not occur when similar microsomal fatty acid modifications are produced during culture of the intact cell.     

Lipoxin A4 and lipoxin B4 stimulate the release but not the oxygenation of arachidonic acid in human neutrophils: dissociation between lipid remodeling and adhesion

The profiles of actions of lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and lipoxin B4 (LXB4), two lipoxygenase-derived eicosanoids, were examined with human neutrophils. At nanomolar concentrations, LXA4 and LXB4 each stimulated the release of [1-14C]arachidonic acid from esterified sources in neutrophils. Lipoxin-induced release of [1-14C]arachidonic acid was both dose- and time-dependent and was comparable to that induced by the chemotactic peptide f-met-leu-phe. Time-course studies revealed that lipoxin A4 and lipoxin B4 each induced a biphasic release of [1-14C]arachidonic acid, which was evident within seconds (5-15 sec) in its initial phase and minutes (greater than 30 sec) in the second phase. In contrast, the all-trans isomers of LXA4 and LXB4 did not provoke [1-14C]AA release. Lipoxin-induced release of arachidonic acid was inhibited by prior treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin but not by its beta-oligomers, suggesting the involvement of guaninine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins in this event. Dual radiolabeling of neutrophil phospholipid classes with [1-14C]arachidonic acid and [3H]palmitic acid showed that phosphatidylcholine was a major source of lipoxin-induced release of [1-14C]arachidonic acid. They also demonstrated that lipoxins rapidly stimulate both formation of phosphatidic acid as well as phospholipid remodeling. Although both LXA4 and LXB4 (10(-8)-10(-6) M) stimulated the release of [1-14C]arachidonic acid, neither compound evoked its oxygenation by either the 5- or 15-lipoxygenase pathways (including the formation of LTB4, 20-COOH-LTB4, 5-HETE, or 15-HETE). LXA4 and LXB4 (10(-7) M) each stimulated the elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ as monitored with Fura 2-loaded cells, albeit to a lesser extent than equimolar concentrations of FMLP. Neither lipoxin altered the binding of [3H]LTB4 to its receptor on neutrophils. In addition, they did not stimulate aggregation or induce adhesion of neutrophils to human endothelial cells. Results indicate that both LXA4 and LXB4 stimulate the rapid remodeling of neutrophil phospholipids to release arachidonic acid without provoking either aggregation or the formation of lipoxygenase-derived products within a similar temporal and dose range. Together they indicate that LXA4 and LXB4 display selective actions with human neutrophils and suggest that these eicosanoids possess unique profiles of action which may regulate neutrophil function during inflammation.     

On the mechanism of transcellular lipoxin formation in human platelets and granulocytes

Endogenous arachidonic acid was converted to lipoxins A4, B4 and (6S)-lipoxin A4, in ionophore-A23187-stimulated mixtures of human platelets and granulocytes, while no lipoxins were formed when these cells were incubated separately. However, pure platelet suspensions transformed exogenous leukotriene A4 to lipoxins, including lipoxin A4 and (6S)-lipoxin A4, but not lipoxin B4. This compound was produced exclusively in the presence of granulocytes. A common unstable tetraene intermediate in lipoxin formation, 15-hydroxy-leukotriene A4 [5(6)-epoxy-15-hydroxy-7,9,13-trans-11-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid], was indicated by trapping experiments with methanol. Thus, identical profiles of less polar tetraene-containing derivatives were formed from leukotriene A4 in platelet suspensions, from exogenous 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in granulocyte suspensions and from endogenous substrate in mixed platelet/granulocyte suspensions. Evidence for the involvement of 12-lipoxygenase in platelet-dependent lipoxin formation was obtained. Thus, lipoxin synthesis from leukotriene A4 and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid production from arachidonic acid by human platelets was equally inhibited by 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid with 50% inhibition obtained at 7.0 microM and 8.2 microM, respectively. In experiments with subcellular preparations from platelets, lipoxin synthesis was observed in both the particulate and soluble fraction and was paralleled by the 12-lipoxygenase activity. Furthermore, lipoxin formation from leukotriene A4 in platelet sonicates was dose-dependently inhibited by exogenous arachidonic acid. Finally, 12-lipoxygenase-deficient platelets from a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia were totally unable to produce lipoxins from exogenous or granulocyte-derived leukotriene A4. It is concluded that the transcellular lipoxin synthesis is dependent on the platelet 12-lipoxygenase and proceeds via the unstable intermediate, 15-hydroxy-leukotriene A4. This tetraene epoxide is transformed to lipoxin B4 by a granulocyte epoxide hydrolase activity or to lipoxin A4 and lipoxins A4/B4 isomers by enzymatic or nonenzymatic hydrolysis.