Metabolism of exogenous arachidonic acid by mouse peritoneal macrophages

On incubation of resident mouse peritoneal macrophages with arachidonic acid several hydroxyacyl derivatives detectable in cellular supernatants are formed. As main products monohydroxyarachidonic acids (monoHETE's) were identified. In addition, smaller amounts of dihydroxyarachidonic acids (diHETE's) supernatants by reversed phase HPLC, normal phase HPLC in combination with UV-spectroscopy and combined gas-chromatography / masspectrometry revealed the presence of 5-, 8-, 12- and 15 - mono-HETE's, two distinct 5, 12-diHETE's, several 8, 15-diHETE's and 14, 15-diHETE. Among the 5, 12-diHETE's, only small amounts of a compound with the characteristics of LTB, were detected. Under the conditions employed, the cycloxygenase products PGE₂ and PGI₂ (as 6-keto-PGF_1g) were only minor metabolites. In contrast, when macrophage cultures were stimulated with the phagocytic stimulus zymosan, PGI₂, PGE₂ and LTC₄ were found as the major conversion products of arachidonic acid, whereas mono- and diHETE's were not formed in detectable amounts.     

Regulation of macrophage eicosanoid production by hydroperoxy-and hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids.

Resident mouse peritoneal macrophages when exposed to zymosan during the first day of cell culture synthesize and secrete large amounts of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4), the respective products of cyclo-oxygenase- and 5-lipoxygenase-catalysed oxygenations of arachidonic acid. Under these conditions of cell stimulation only small amounts of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) are concomitantly produced. However, exogenously added arachidonic acid is metabolized to large amounts of 12- and 15-HETE and only relatively small amounts of PGE2. No LTC4 is formed under these conditions. In contrast, resident mouse peritoneal macrophages in cell culture for 4 days synthesized less PGE2 and LTC4 when exposed to zymosan. However, these macrophage populations continue to synthesize 12-HETE from exogenously added arachidonic acid. Zymosan induced the secretion of a lysosomal enzyme, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, equally in both 1- and 4-day cultures. Both 12- and 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HPETEs), the precursors of 12- and 15-HETE, were found to be irreversible inhibitors of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway and reversible inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in macrophages. 15-HETE were found to be reversible inhibitors of both pathways. Thus the oxidation of arachidonic oxidation of arachidonic acid to both prostaglandins and leukotrienes may be under intracellular regulation by products of 12- and 15-lipoxygenases.     

Evidence for a novel pathway of leukotriene formation in human platelets

The metabolism of arachidonic acid via lipoxygenase-catalyzed reactions in washed human platelets was investigated. In addition to the previously discovered lipoxygenase metabolites, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 8,15-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and 14,15-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, several other products were formed. The compounds were all dihydroxylated metabolites of arachidonic acid, containing a conjugated triene structure, and identified as 11,12-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (two isomers) and 5,12-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (four isomers). The identification was based on ultraviolet spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of native and hydrogenated compounds. Stereochemical analysis of the hydroxyl groups of the 5,12-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids and experiments with 18O2 indicated that the compounds were formed by the 12-lipoxygenase pathway, probably via an unstable epoxide.     

Ionophore-stimulated lipoxygenase activity and histamine release in a cloned murine mast cell, MC9

A cloned murine mast cell line designated MC9 expresses a 5-lipoxygenase activity when stimulated with the ionophore A23187. Upon addition of 0.5 microM ionophore, MC9 cells produce 270 +/- 43 pmoles 5-HETE, 74 +/- 40 pmoles 5,12 diHETEs and 65 +/- 31 pmoles LTC4/10(6) cells from 37 microM exogenously added [1-14C]arachidonic acid in two minutes. 5-HETE and 5,12-diHETES, including LTB4 were identified by GC/MS whereas LTC4 was confirmed by HPLC mobility, bio-assay, RIA and enzymatic transformation. The principal cyclooxygenase products were PGD2 and TxB2 (8.5 +/- 2.4 and 5.4 +/- 1.2 pmoles/10(6) cells respectively). Prostanoids were identified by comigration with authentic standards on two-dimensional thin layer chromatograms. Production of arachidonic acid lipoxygenase metabolites stimulated with ionophore proved relatively insensitive to removal of extracellular Ca+2 and chelation by EGTA. In addition, MC9 5-lipoxygenase required only low micromolar amounts of exogenous arachidonic acid for maximal activity. Whereas production of arachidonic acid metabolites lasted only two to five minutes, histamine release stimulated with ionophore was not initiated until 5 minutes (12 +/- 3% cellular histamine) and continued for 30 minutes (37 +/- 7% cellular histamine). Although these cells metabolize arachidonic acid differently from the classic peritoneal-derived mast cell, they resemble subpopulations found in certain tissues (such as mucosa) and should be useful in understanding the biochemistry of mast cell mediator release.     

Eicosapentaenoic acid metabolism in brain microvessel endothelium: effect on prostaglandin formation

Mouse brain microvessel endothelial cells convert eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to prostaglandin (PG) E3, PGI3, and several hydroxy fatty acid derivatives. Similar types of products are formed by these microvessel endothelial cells from arachidonic acid. The formation of PGI2 and PGE2 is reduced, however, when the brain microvessel endothelial cultures are incubated initially with EPA. Exposure to linolenic or docosahexaenoic acid also decreased the capacity of these microvessel endothelial cells to form PGI2 and PGE2, but the reductions were smaller than those produced by EPA. Like the endothelial cultures, intact mouse brain microvessels convert EPA into eicosanoids, and incubation with EPA reduces the subsequent capacity of the microvessels to produce PGI2 and PGE2. Brain microvessel endothelial cells took up less EPA than arachidonic acid, primarily due to lesser incorporation into the inositol, ethanolamine, and serine glycerophospholipids. By contrast, considerably more EPA than arachidonic acid was incorporated into triglycerides. These findings suggest that the microvessel endothelium may be a site of conversion of EPA to eicosanoids in the brain and that EPA availability can influence the amount of dienoic prostaglandins released by the brain microvasculature. Furthermore, the substantial incorporation of EPA into triglyceride suggests that this neutral lipid may play an important role in the processing and metabolism of EPA in brain microvessels.     

Formation of 6-oxoprostaglandin F1 alpha, 6,15-dioxoprostaglandin F1 alpha, and monohydroxyicosatetraenoic acids from arachidonic acid by fetal calf aorta and ductus arteriosus

Particulate fractions and slices from fetal calf aorta convert arachidonic acid to 6-oxoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-oxoPGF1 alpha), 6,15-dioxoPGF1 alpha, 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid, 11-hydroxy-5,8,12,14-icosatetraenoic acid (11h-20:4), and 15-hydroxy-5,8,11,13-icosatetraenoic acid (15h-20:4). In some cases, small amounts of 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-icosatetraenoic acid (12h-20:4) were also detected. The products were all identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after purification by normal phase and argentation high pressure liquid chromatography. Both 11h-20:4 and 15h-20:4 appeared to be formed by prostaglandin endoperoxide synthetase rather than by lipoxygenases, since their formation was inhibited by indomethacin but not by nordihydroguaiaretic acid. The formation of 12h-20:4, on the other hand, was stimulated by indomethacin, probably due to increased substrate availability. The formation of hydroxyicosatetraenoic acids was markedly stimulated by adrenaline. Substantial amounts of 6,15-dioxoPGF1 alpha were formed from arachidonic acid by particulate fractions from fetal calf blood vessels, especially in the presence of relatively high substrate concentrations. The formation of this product was stimulated by methemoglobin and inhibited by adrenaline, glutathione, and tryptophan. It would appear that particulate fractions from fetal calf aorta convert arachidonic acid to 15-hydroperoxyPGI2, which can either be reduced in the presence of various cofactors to form PGI2 or dehydrated to give 15-oxoPGI2. The formation of hydroperoxides from arachidonic acid could be an important factor in regulating PGI2 synthesis in aorta, since PGI2 synthetase is strongly inhibited by such intermediates.     

Macrophages isolated from liver granulomas of murine Schistosoma mansoni synthesize predominantly TxA2 during the acute and chronic phases of infection

Macrophages isolated from liver granulomas of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni for 8 or 20 wk synthesize predominantly thromboxane A2 with smaller amounts of the PGE2 and PGI2. There is no physiologic production of leukotrienes, as determined by RIA and HPLC. Thromboxane A2 is the predominant arachidonic acid metabolite whether the cells are stimulated by a phagocytic stimuli such as zymosan or the exogenous substrates arachidonic acid and PGH2. These data indicate that the predominant arachidonate enzymatic activity in these cells is thromboxane synthase.     

Arachidonic acid metabolism in guinea pig Langerhans cells: studies on cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways

Epidermal Langerhans cells are macrophage-like la+ leukocytes that are critically involved in cutaneous immune reactions. Because macrophages exert their immunoregulatory activity in part by generation of oxygenated arachidonic acid metabolites, we systematically studied arachidonic acid transformations by purified guinea pig Langerhans cells and compared them with mixed epidermal cells and Langerhans cell-depleted keratinocytes. Products formed from arachidonic acid by cell homogenates were measured after thin-layer or reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatographic separation. In addition, leukotriene B4 and C4 formation was assessed in supernatants of Ca ionophore A23187-challenged intact cells by radioimmunoassay. Mixed epidermal cells converted arachidonic acid predominantly via cyclooxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase pathways. The main products were prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-Hete), although significant amounts of PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were formed as well. PGD2 synthesis was dependent on the presence of reduced glutathione. The product spectrum formed by Langerhans cell-depleted keratinocytes was virtually indistinguishable from mixed epidermal cells. In contrast, Langerhans cells showed a markedly different metabolism of arachidonic acid. They exhibited an exceedingly high PGD2-generating capacity, whereas only minor amounts of 12-HETE and very low amounts of other prostaglandins were synthesized. The PGD2/12-HETE ratio was 1.22 for mixed epidermal cells and 4.37 for Langerhans cells. Leukotriene production from exogenous or endogenous arachidonic acid could not be demonstrated by either radioenzymatic or radioimmunologic detection methods. We conclude that guinea pig Langerhans cells transform arachidonic acid predominantly to PGD2, which might mediate significant immunoregulatory, inflammatory, and antitumoral activity in the skin.     

Increase in the formation of leukotriene B4 and other lipoxygenase products in peritoneal macrophages of adrenalectomized rats

The effect of adrenalectomy on the formation of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products by activated peritoneal rat macrophages was determined. After isolation, the cells were incubated with [1-14C]arachidonic acid and the calcium ionophore A23187 and the metabolites isolated by HPLC chromatography. The main components formed in the controls are 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, thromboxane B2 and 12-HETE. One peak represents 5,12-di-HETE. Smaller amounts of prostaglandin F2 alpha, prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin D2, leukotriene B4 and 15-HETE are also present. After adrenalectomy, a considerable increase occurs in the amounts of leukotriene B4, 15-HETE and 12-HETE. The increase in the prostaglandins is smaller. The compounds formed from endogenous arachidonic acid are also determined. In the cells of the controls, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2 are produced in higher amounts than leukotriene B4. After adrenalectomy, the formation of leukotriene B4 is much more increased than that of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha. These effects are most probably related to a diminished amount or inactivation of lipocortin, a glucocorticosteroid-induced peptide with phospholipase A2 inhibitory activity in adrenalectomized animals.     

Enhanced formation of PGI2, a potent hypotensive substance, by aortic rings and homogenates of the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Intact rings and homogenates of aorta from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) contain enhanced capacity over normal rats (NR) to convert arachidonic acid into PGI2. The PGI2 synthetic system in SHR is stimulated to a greater extent than NR by norepinephrine. Indomethacin blocks this stimulation. PGE2 and PGF2alpha were detected in much smaller amounts in homogenates (undetected in rings) but their formation was not enhanced by the hypertensive tissue. The identity of PGI2 was based on 1) direct pharmacological assay on the rat blood pressure. In this system identical vasodepressor responses to PGI2 are observed after intracarotid and intrajugular administration 2) indirectly as 6-keto PGF1alpha isolated after incubation of aortic homogenates with tritiated arachidonic acid and 3) indirectly by GC-MS assay of PGE2, PGF2alpha and 6-keto PGF1alpha formed during incubation of aortic homogenates with excess unlabeled arachidonic acid. These results provide additional support to our recent hypothesis that PGI2, of aortic origin, might actively participate in the regulation of systemic blood pressure. Its enhanced formation by intact hypertensive vascular tissue reflects an increase in the number of enzyme molecules immediately available to the substrate. This could probably be an adaptive response to the elevated levels of catecholamines in the circulation.     

Prostanoid synthesis by vascular slices and cultured vascular cells of piglet aorta

Biosynthesis of prostanoids was studies in vascular slices of human umbilical arteries, piglet aorta and vena cava as well as in cultured vascular cells of piglet aorta. After preincubation with radioactive labeled arachidonic acid, prostanoids in the incubation media of slices or cultured cells were measured by radioimmunoassay or by radioactivity determination of labeled compounds following separation on reserved-phase high performance liquid chromatography. In all vascular slices 6-keto-PGF1α was the main prostanoid found, followed by PGE2. Thromboxane B2 and PGF2α were also formed, but only in trace amounts. In cultured cells taken from the three layers of the vascular wall, the prostanoid profiles differed markedly from those obtained from vascular slices. Each cell strain showed a specific prostanoid pattern. Endothelial cells synthesized predominantly 6-keto-PGF1α and PGF2α. In smooth muscle cells no 6-keto-PGF1α could be detected; here the predominant prostanoid was PGE2. PGF2α was formed in smaller quantities. Fibroblasts synthesized all prostanoids (PGE2, PGF2α, TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1α), PGE2 and PGF2α being the major products. In vascular slices and in cultured endothelial cells, the predominant prostacyclin derivative detected was 6-keto-PGF1α; the enzymatic PGI2-metabolite, 6,15-diketo-PGF1α, could be detected only in piglet vena cava slices in small amounts.     

Stability of authentic PGI2 during routine extraction. Clarification of the nature and sequence of products formed by the rat stomach including the origin of the ozonolysis products reported in 1971.

Authentic PGI2 and PGI2 formed by rat stomach homogenates were carried through a simple extraction and purification procedure to explore the feasibility of isolation of this biologically active bicyclic ether product of arachidonic acid. The integrity of PGI2 was followed throughout by bioassay on the rat blood pressure. In this system we recently reported that PGI2 has very potent hypotensive actions which are easily distinguishable from those observed for PGE2 (14). Our results indicate that PGI2 survives the initial extraction steps (i.e. ethanol extraction, diethyl ether - HCl extraction and methylation) up to the step involving thin layer chromatography with an acidic developing solvent system. This latter procedure converts PGI2 entirely into a stable derivative, 6-keto-PGF1alpha (3,8--10). Oxidative ozonolysis of the methyl ester acetate derivative of authentic 6-keto PGF1alpha reveals products identical to those reported by Pace-Asciak and Wolfe in 1971 (1) which are also produced from authentic PGI2. This data sheds new light into 1) the nature of the biological product formed by stomach homogenates, 2) its transformation into 6-keto PGF1alpha during purification and 3) the origin of the ozonolysis products in the experiments reported in 1971.     

Purification of natural killer-like Kurloff cells and arachidonic acid metabolism.

Pulmonary and splenic Kurloff cells have been purified from estrogen-treated guinea pig. Enzymatic digestion of lung tissue and mechanical dispersion of cells yielded about 650 x 10(6) viable cells. After centrifugal elutriation and centrifugation on continuous Percoll gradient, a population of high-density (1,100 g/ml) pulmonary Kurloff cells were obtained with high viability (approximately 99%) and purity (approximately 99%). Splenic Kurloff cells have been isolated by disruption of spleen tissue and centrifugation on continuous Percoll gradient. High-density splenic Kurloff cells (150 x 10(6) cells per spleen) were also obtained with high purity (approximately 99%) and viability (approximately 99%). Pulmonary and splenic Kurloff cells were incubated with various concentrations of arachidonic acid (10, 30 and 100 microM) in the absence or presence of 2 microM ionophore A23187. With 10 microM arachidonic acid the relative production of cyclooxygenase products was the following: TxB2 greater than PGE2 approximately PGI2. For an arachidonic acid concentration superior to 10 microM, the profile of release was PGE2 much greater than TxB2 greater than PGI2. Arachidonic acid metabolism through the 5-lipoxygenase pathway was also studied by incubating pulmonary or splenic Kurloff cells with 10 microM arachidonic acid in the absence or presence of 2 microM ionophore A23187, or in some experiments, with 2.5 microM leukotriene A4. Reverse phase HPLC profiles clearly indicated that high-density Kurloff cells did not express 5-lipoxygenase activity. However, these cells showed the ability to convert exogenous leukotriene A4 into leukotriene B4 suggesting the presence of LTA4 hydrolase activity. These data have been confirmed by a sensitive RIA method. This study constitutes the first report on the purification of pulmonary Kurloff cells and on arachidonic acid metabolism by these cells. The possible implications of Kurloff cells in various biological events are discussed.     

Eicosapentaenoic acid metabolism in human and rabbit anterior uvea

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) metabolism into 3 series cyclooxygenase and 5 series lipoxygenase products was assessed in human and rabbit anterior uvea. Both tissues synthesized 3 series cyclooxygenase products such as delta17 6-keto-PGF1 (PGI3 metabolite), PGE3 alpha, PGE3, PGD3 and TxB3 (a stable product of TxA3) and lipoxygenase products 12-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (HEPE), 5-HEPE and 5,12-diHEPE from 14C-EPA. EPA-derived cyclooxygenase product synthesis was considerably greater than the formation of lipoxygenase products from EPA in both tissues.     

Characterization of 11-HETE and 15-HETE, together with prostacyclin, as major products of the cyclooxygenase pathway in cultured rat aorta smooth muscle cells

Arachidonic acid is the precursor of several potent derivatives that regulate physiological functions in the cardiovascular system. Thromboxane (TXA2) and prostacyclin (PGI2) are synthesized by the cyclooxygenase enzyme. The proaggregatory and vasoconstrictive TXA2 produced by platelets is opposed in vivo by the antiaggregatory and vasodilating activity of PGI2 synthesized by blood vessels. Arachidonic acid is also converted via a 5-lipoxygenase to leukotrienes, the vasoconstrictive components of SRSA. We have shown that this latter pathway is regulated by 15-HETE, a product of the 15-lipoxygenase present in lymphocytes. Confluent cultures of rat aorta smooth muscle cells (RSM) were superfused briefly with [14C]arachidonic acid. The products were isolated and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography-radioautography, high performance liquid chromatography, and gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Prostacyclin (PGI2) was identified as the major product both by its biological properties in a platelet aggregation assay and by the mass spectrum of its tetra-trimethylsilylether-methyl ester derivative. Minor quantities of PGE2, PGD2, and PGF2 alpha were also synthesized. Three other compounds with chromatographic properties of mono-hydroxy eicosanoic acids were also formed in major amounts. These were shown to be cyclooxygenase products since their synthesis, together with that of prostacyclin, was blocked by the cyclooxygenase inhibitors aspirin (0.2 mM) and indomethacin (10 microM). Quantities of the hydroxy-eicosanoids were isolated from large scale incubations by silicic acid chromatography. Following methylation and reduction with platinum oxide/H2, the compounds were converted to their trimethylsilylether derivatives and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The compounds were identified as 11-hydroxy-5,8,12,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (11-HETE), 15-hydroxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE), and hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadeca-trienoic acid (HHT) by simultaneous ion monitoring of characteristic ions at M/e ratios of 287, 258, 229 for 11-HETE and 343, 314, 173 for 15-HETE, and by comparison with the mass spectra of authentic samples. Rat smooth muscle cells, prelabeled by 24-hour incubation with [14C]arachidonic acid, released large amounts of prostacyclin together with enhanced amounts of 11- and 15-HETE in response to physiological levels of thrombin (0.5-5 units/ml). These experiments demonstrate that, in addition to the thromboxane antagonist prostacyclin, vascular smooth muscle cells produce significant quantities of the leukotriene inhibitor 15-HETE via the cyclooxygenase pathway in response to physiological stimuli such as thrombin. The release of both prostacyclin and 15-HETE by vascular smooth muscle cells may thus play an important role in vascular homeostasis.     

Effects of long-term supplementation of eicosapentanoic and docosahexanoic acid on the 2-, 3-series prostacyclin production by endothelial cells.

We studied the effects of polyunsaturated fatty, acids such as arachidonic acid [20:4 (n-6)], eicosapentanoic acid [EPA, 20:5 (n-3)], and docosahexanoic acid [DHA, 22:6 (n-3)] on the changes of lipid profiles and prostacyclin production by cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells. The amounts of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha(6-keto-PGF1alpha) and delta17-6-keto-PGF1alpha, non-enzymatic metabolites of prostacyclin (PGI2 and PGI3) in culture medium were measured by gas chromatography/selected ion monitoring. Endothelial cells were supplemented for five passages with arachidonic acid, EPA, or DHA, and the fatty acids of cell lipids and prostacyclin production in cultured medium were quantified. From the fatty acid analysis, the amounts of docosapentaenoic acid [22:5 (n-3)] were significantly increased in EPA-grown cells. In DHA-grown cells, the amounts of EPA were slightly increased compared to control cells. These cells produced similar amounts of PGI2 as the controls, but larger amounts of PGI3 under basal conditions. These findings suggest that EPA, docosapentaenoic acid, and DHA are interconverted to each other, and anti-aggregatory effects of EPA or DHA may be partially due to the stimulation of prostacyclin formation in endothelial cells.     

Atherosclerosis decreased prostacyclin formation in rabbit lungs and kidneys.

Metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) was studied in perfused lungs and kidneys of normal and atherosclerotic rabbits by determination of PGE2, PGF2 alpha and the stable metabolites of PGI2 (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) and TXA2 (TXB2). PGI2 was the main AA metabolite formed by normal lungs and kidneys. Atherosclerosis reduced the formation of PGI2 by about 50 % in both organs. TXA2 formation was similarily decreased in lungs. In kidneys, the decrease in PGI2 formation was accompanied by an increase in PGE2 formation.     

Altered arachidonic acid metabolism during differentiation of the human monoblastoid cell line U937

The human cell line U937 was used as a model for differentiation along the mononuclear phagocyte lineage. Following treatment with the phorbol ester TPA, PGE2 and TxB2 secretion was induced 50-100-fold, and both PGF2 alpha and PGI2 levels became detectable in the supernatant of TPA-differentiated U937 cells. The content of the prostaglandin precursor, arachidonic acid, remained unchanged in the cellular phospholipids of undifferentiated and TPA-differentiated U937 cells. Of the enzymes involved in the availability and metabolism of arachidonic acid, phospholipase A2 activity was increased 2-fold in the membranes of TPA-differentiated U937 cells, whereas lysophosphatide acyltransferase activity remained unaltered. Cyclooxygenase activity, however, was enhanced 5-10-fold, which was due to enhanced expression of the enzyme as demonstrated by dot-blot analysis. The data suggest that the capacity to secrete prostaglandins is acquired during differentiation with TPA and results mainly from an increased cyclooxygenase activity. Despite the capacity of TPA-differentiated U937 cells to synthesize prostaglandins, none of the known monocytic stimuli further stimulated prostaglandin secretion in TPA-differentiated U937 cells. Generation of leukotrienes appears to represent a later state in the differentiation along the monocyte-macrophage lineage, since neither LTB4 nor cysteinyl-leukotrienes were detectable in the supernatants of either undifferentiated or TPA-differentiated U937 cells.     

A fast, nondestructive purification scheme for prostaglandin H2 using a nonaqueous, bonded-phase high-performance liquid chromatography system

Arachidonic acid metabolism produces several biologically important compounds including the leukotrienes and prostaglandins. Prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) is the first metabolite in the arachidonic acid cascade leading to all other prostaglandins. Pivotal to our understanding of PGH2's biology is the ability to separate it in pure form from the numerous other arachidonic acid metabolites produced in a biological milieu. The extensive literature on PGH2 biology and metabolism has relied almost exclusively on the traditional method of separation using gravity flow silicic acid columns. In our hands, such PGH2 preparations were found to contain varying amounts of 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT), PGE2, PGF2 alpha and other minor impurities as determined by further chromatographic and mass spectral analyses. Analytical separation of PGH2 and other arachidonic acid metabolites has been accomplished using reversed-phase HPLC. However, the labile nature of this molecule in aqueous systems makes such techniques unacceptable for preparative isolation of high purity PGH2 and has necessitated the development of a totally nonaqueous separation. To this end, we attempted several stationary phases and found that the cyano-bonded phase showed the best selectivity for resolving PGH2 from its major contaminants. Separations were performed on self-packed columns using a hexane-isopropanol gradient. Peaks were detected both by liquid scintillation counting and uv spectrophotometry (214 nm). Structure assignments were made by chromatographic comparison with authentic standards (PGF2 alpha, PGE2), biological activity (PGH2--platelet aggregation), and by ammonia direct chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HHT, hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid, PGH2, PGE2, PGF2 alpha). The latter technique, which by its very nature volatilizes all organic material in the sample, was particularly useful in determining not only that the PGH2 preparations were free from the aforementioned side products, but that they were also free from lipid, protein, and other potential residues frequently found in biological preparations.