Studies on the conjugation of leukotriene B4 with proteins for development of a radioimmunoassay for leukotriene B4

Leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄) (I) has been converted to its N-(3-aminopropyl)amide derivative (III) and to its hydrazide derivative (VII) via LTB₄ δ-lactone. The amide (III) was coupled with Bovine Serum Albumin using 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as coupling agent. The hydrazide (VII), was coupled with Hemocyanin (Keyhole Limpet) (KLH) using 6-N-maleimidohexanoic acid chloride as coupling agent.     

Development of a homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence leukotriene B4 assay for determining the activity of leukotriene A4 hydrolase

Leukotriene A4 (LTA4) hydrolase catalyzes a rate-limiting final biosynthetic step of leukotriene B4 (LTB4), a potent lipid chemotactic agent and proinflammatory mediator. LTB4 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, and thus LTA4 hydrolase is regarded as an attractive therapeutic target for anti-inflammation. To facilitate identification and optimization of LTA4 hydrolase inhibitors, a specific and efficient assay to quantify LTB4 is essential. This article describes the development of a novel 384-well homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence assay for LTB4 (LTB4 HTRF assay) and its application to establish an HTRF-based LTA4 hydrolase assay for lead optimization. This LTB4 HTRF assay is based on competitive inhibition and was established by optimizing the reagent concentration, buffer composition, incubation time, and assay miniaturization. The optimized assay is sensitive, selective, and robust, with a Z' factor of 0.89 and a subnanomolar detection limit for LTB4. By coupling this LTB4 HTRF assay to the LTA4 hydrolase reaction, an HTRF-based LTA4 hydrolase assay was established and validated. Using a test set of 16 LTA4 hydrolase inhibitors, a good correlation was found between the IC50 values obtained using LTB4 HTRF with those determined using the LTB enzyme-linked immunoassay (R = 0.84). The HTRF-based LTA4 hydrolase assay was shown to be an efficient and suitable assay for determining compound potency and library screening to guide the development of potent inhibitors of LTA4 hydrolase.     

Effect of structural modification at carbon atom 1 of leukotriene B4 on the chemotactic and metabolic response of human neutrophils

Human neutrophils biosynthesize the chemoattractant leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and metabolize LTB4 to omega oxidative products 20-hydroxy-LTB4 (20-OH-LTB4) and 20-carboxy-LTB4 (20-COOH-LTB4). In this study, we prepared the C-1 methyl ester and N-methyl amide of LTB4 and then examined neutrophil chemotaxis and metabolism of these derivatives of LTB4. The results show that chemical modification of LTB4 at carbon atom 1 dramatically affects metabolism of the lipid molecule. The free acid form of LTB4 was taken up and metabolized by human neutrophils, while the methyl ester and N-methyl amide derivatives were poor substrates for omega oxidation. Although human neutrophils were poorly attracted to the methyl ester of LTB4, the amide derivative was a complete agonist of the neutrophil chemotactic response and displayed an ED50 for chemotaxis identical to that of LTB4. Therefore, we concluded that omega oxidation is not a requirement for the neutrophil chemotactic response induced by LTB4. These results also indicate that the N-methyl amide of LTB4 may be a useful ligand for the elucidation of molecular mechanisms operative in neutrophil chemotaxis to LTB4, since the C-1 derivative is not further metabolized. Two separate responses of human neutrophils are elicited by LTB4, resulting in both cellular activation and generation of omega oxidation products. It appears that putative receptors on the neutrophils can distinguish between LTB4 and certain derivatives that are structurally identical except for modification at the C-1 position (i.e., the methyl ester). LTB4 derivatives modified at the C-1 position do not undergo conversion to omega oxidation products by the neutrophil.     

Affinity labeling of the membrane protein-binding component of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte receptors for leukotriene B4.

A radiolabeled N-(3-aminopropyl)-leukotriene B4 amide ([3H]LTB4-APA) analog of the potent leukocyte chemotactic factor leukotriene B4 (LTB4) binds to receptors for LTB4 in plasma membrane-enriched preparations from human blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and intact PMNL with respective mean dissociation constants of 2.3 nM and 69 nM at 4 degrees C. The [3H]LTB4-APA bound to plasma membrane-enriched preparations from PMNL was covalently cross-linked to membrane proteins with disuccinimidyl suberate. Solubilization and resolution by SDS-PAGE of proteins from [3H]LTB4-APA-labeled PMNL membranes revealed predominant labeling of a 60-kDa protein. Labeling of the PMNL membrane protein was inhibited by LTB4 and its analogs at concentrations similar to those inhibiting the binding of [3H]LTB4 to its receptor, with an identical rank order of potency of LTB4 greater than 20-hydroxy-LTB4 greater than LTB4-APA = 5(S),12(R)-dihydroxy-eicosa-14-cis-6,8,10-trans-tetraenoic acid much greater than LTD4 = LTC4. GTP suppressed the labeling of the 60-kDa PMNL membrane protein to an extent consistent with the decrease in receptor affinity for LTB4 induced by GTP. The stereospecificity of the affinity cross-linking reaction and the regulation by GTP support the identification of an approximately 60-kDa protein as the binding component of the PMNL receptor for LTB4.     

Properties of leukotriene B4 20-hydroxylase from polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) convert arachidonic acid (20:4) to a number of dihydroxy metabolites, including leukotriene B4 (LTB4) 5S,12R-dihydroxy-6,8,10,14-EEEZ-icosatetraenoic acid (isomer-1), 5S,12S-dihydroxy-6,8,10,14-EEEZ-icosatetraenoic acid, 5S,12S-dihydroxy-6,8,10,14-EZEZ-icosatetraenoic acid (5S,12S-dh-20:4), 5,6-dihydroxy-7,9,11,14-icosatetraenoic acid, and 5,15-dihydroxy-6,8,11,13-icosatetraenoic acid. LTB4 was synthesized rapidly after stimulation of PMNL with the divalent cation ionophore, A23187, but its concentration rapidly declined after about 4 min, in contrast to the other dihydroxy metabolites of 20:4 whose concentrations remained stable for at least 20 min. The amounts of polar metabolites (identified primarily as 20-hydroxy-LTB4) increased steadily with time up to 20 min. These results suggest that LTB4 may be specifically converted to its 20-hydroxy metabolite by PMNL. We prepared 3H- and 14C-labeled analogs of the dihydroxyicosatetraenoic acid metabolites described above by incubation of labeled 20:4 with PMNL. Although all of these substances were metabolized to some extent by human PMNL, LTB4 (apparent Km, 1.0 microM) was metabolized the most rapidly, followed by 5S,12S-dh-20:4 (apparent Km, 2.4 microM) and isomer-1 (apparent Km, 4.8 microM). All three substrates were shown by mass spectrometry to be converted to their 20-hydroxy metabolites. LTB4 was also metabolized to its omega-carboxy derivative. Human mononuclear leukocytes and rabbit PMNL metabolized LTB4 very slowly, whereas rat PMNL metabolized this substrate at about one-sixth the rate of human PMNL. These results demonstrate that human PMNL contain an omega-hydroxylase that specifically converts LTB4 to its 20-hydroxy metabolite. This enzyme may be important for the regulation of LTB4 levels in vivo.     

A reevaluation of the chemotactic potency of leukotriene B4 (LTB4)

The chemotactic potency of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) was reevaluated based on an improved purification procedure which combines reversed phase and straight phase high pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC and SP-HPLC). Socalled LTB4 isomer III prepared by RP-HPLC contains two double oxygenated 5,12-dihydroxy acids in addition to LTB4. On a molar basis, the chemotactic activity of LTB4 repurified by SP-HPLC was far greater than that of the other two 5,12-dihydroxy acids and comparable to that of formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). The chemotactic activity of LTB4 isomer III is dependent upon the relative concentrations of the double oxygenated 5,12-dihydroxy acids and LTB4. Further purification of peak III by SP-HPLC is required before assessing the biologic activity of LTB4.     

Comparative effect of leukotriene B4 and leukotriene B5 on calcium mobilization in human neutrophils

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is reported to exert its biological activity in neutrophils through the increase in cytosolic free calcium that follows binding to its specific receptor. Leukotriene B5 has been shown to be far less active than LTB4. Therefore we compared the capacity of LTB4 and LTB5 to stimulate the rise in cytosolic free calcium using fura-2-loaded human neutrophils, to assess the relationship between the calcium mobilizing activity and biological potency of LTB4 and LTB5. At any concentration tested, LTB5 was less active than LTB4 in increasing cytosolic free calcium. ED50 for LTB4 and LTB5 were 5 X 10(-10) M and 5 X 10(-9) M, respectively. The difference in the binding affinities of LTB4 and LTB5 to the LTB4 receptor has been reported to explain the difference in their biological activities. In the present study we further demonstrated that the calcium mobilizing activity of LTB4 and LTB5 also correlates the different biological activity of the two compounds.     

Detergent solubilization of human neutrophil leukotriene B4 receptors

Specific leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptors in human neutrophils were solubilized by treatment of "receptor fraction" membranes with the zwitterionic detergent (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]1-propane sulfonate (CHAPS). The soluble receptors were assayed by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation coupled with Millipore filtration. The solubilized receptors retained all of the characteristics of the receptor sites in intact neutrophils. The binding of LTB4 was rapid, reversible and stereospecific. Mathematical modeling analysis revealed biphasic binding of [3H] LTB4 indicating two classes of binding sites. The high affinity binding site had a dissociation constant of 1.93 nM and Bmax of 281 fmoles/mg protein; the low affinity binding site had a dissociation constant of 78.92 nM and Bmax of 2522 fmoles/mg protein. Competitive binding experiments with structural analogs of LTB4 demonstrate that the interaction between LTB4 and its binding site is stereospecific and correlates with the relative biological activity of the analogs. These data suggest that it may be possible to purify the LTB4 receptor from human neutrophil membranes.     

Critical role for polar residues in coupling leukotriene B4 binding to signal transduction in BLT1

Leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) mediates a variety of inflammatory diseases such as asthma, arthritis, atherosclerosis, and cancer through activation of the G-protein-coupled receptor, BLT1. Using in silico molecular dynamics simulations combined with site-directed mutagenesis we characterized the ligand binding site and activation mechanism for BLT1. Mutation of residues predicted as potential ligand contact points in transmembrane domains (TMs) III (H94A and Y102A), V (E185A), and VI (N241A) resulted in reduced binding affinity. Analysis of arginines in extracellular loop 2 revealed that mutating arginine 156 but not arginine 171 or 178 to alanine resulted in complete loss of LTB(4) binding to BLT1. Structural models for the ligand-free and ligand-bound states of BLT1 revealed an activation core formed around Asp-64, displaying multiple dynamic interactions with Asn-36, Ser-100, and Asn-281 and a triad of serines, Ser-276, Ser-277, and Ser-278. Mutagenesis of many of these residues in BLT1 resulted in loss of signaling capacity while retaining normal LTB(4) binding function. Thus, polar residues within TMs III, V, and VI and extracellular loop 2 are critical for ligand binding, whereas polar residues in TMs II, III, and VII play a central role in transducing the ligand-induced conformational change to activation. The delineation of a validated binding site and activation mechanism should facilitate structure-based design of inhibitors targeting BLT1.     

Differential effects of 20-trifluoromethyl leukotriene B4 on human neutrophil functions

A leukotriene B4 (LTB4) analog, 20-trifluoromethyl LTB4 (20CF3-LTB4), has been synthesized and evaluated with human neutrophils for effects on chemotaxis and degranulation. 20CF3-LTB4 was equipotent to LTB4 as a chemoattractant (EC50, 3 nM), produced 50% of maximal activity of LTB4, and competed with [H] LTB4 for binding to intact human neutrophil LTB4 receptors. In contrast to chemotactic activity, 20CF3-LTB4 in nanomolar concentrations exhibited antagonist activity without agonist activity up to 10 microM on LTB4-induced degranulation. The analog had no significant effect on degranulation induced by the chemoattractant peptide, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). Like LTB4, 20CF3-LTB4 induced neutrophil desensitization to degranulation by LTB4. The results indicate that hydrogen atoms at C-20 of LTB4 are critical for its intrinsic chemotactic and degranulation activities. The fact that 20CF3-LTB4 is a partial agonist for chemotaxis and an antagonist for degranulation suggests that different LTB4 receptor subtypes are coupled to these neutrophil functions. Desensitization of the neutrophil degranulation response to LTB4 can result from receptor occupancy by an antagonist, and therefore, the desensitization is not specific for an agonist.     

Stereospecificity of leukotriene B4 and structure-function relationships for chemotaxis of human neutrophils

The chemotactic activity of leukotriene B4 (5S, 12R Dihydroxy 6, 14 cis, 8, 10 trans eicosatetraenoic acid) (LTB4) was examined by using a sensitive Boyden-chamber assay. The activity of LTB4 was compared to other biosynthetic stereoisomers: 5S, 12R Dihydroxy 6, 8, 10 trans 14 cis eicosatetraenoic acid (6-trans LTB4); 5S, 12S Dihydroxy 6, 8, 10 trans 14 cis eicosatetraenoic acid (12-epi-6-trans LTB4), 5S, 12S DiHETE; the metabolic product 20-Hydroxy LTB4 (20-OH LTB4); methylated LTB4 (Methyl-LTB4), and the related monoHETE 5-HETE and 12-HETE. The compounds were purified by several steps of reverse phase and straight phase HPLC. The LTB4 exhibits measurable chemotactic activity at 10(-9) M with maximal activity at 10(-7) M and an ED50 of 10(-8) M. The LTB4 isomers and monoHETE were less chemotactic than previously reported. The monoHETE (5-HETE and 12-HETE), the isomer 12-epi-6-trans LTB4, and 5S, 12S DiHETE fail to attract neutrophils at levels between 10(-6) and 10(-5) M. If these compounds are chemotactic, then activity is at least four orders of magnitude less than that of LTB4. The isomer 6-trans LTB4 at 10(-6) to 10(-5) M induced chemotaxis with an extrapolated ED50 value of 10(-5) M, indicating that a trans for cis change in configuration at position 6 reduces the chemotactic activity of LTB4 by 1000-fold. Conversely, the metabolic product 20-OH LTB4 is at least as active as the native compound LTB4. Methylation of the carboxyl group of LTB4 reduces its chemotactic activity by two orders of magnitude. These results indicate a high degree of stereospecificity for the LTB4 receptor with strict dependence on hydroxyl group, and triene configuration and considerable dependence on the carboxyl group. Modification at the aliphatic omega end of the LTB4 molecule has a minimal effect on function, suggesting that the hydrophobicity of this portion of the molecule is not important for optimal activity. Furthermore, we propose that metabolic products of LTB4 may be of greater importance than LTB4 as physiologic inflammatory mediators in vivo.     

Metabolism of leukotriene B4 in isolated rat hepatocytes. Involvement of 2,4-dienoyl-coenzyme A reductase in leukotriene B4 metabolism

Radiolabeled leukotriene (LT) B4 was incubated with isolated rat hepatocytes in order to assess the metabolism of this chemotactic leukotriene by the liver. At least eight radioactive metabolites were observed, three of which were previously identified as 20-hydroxy-, 20-carboxy-, and 18-carboxy-19,20-dinor-LTB4. A less lipophilic major metabolite (designated HIV) was purified by two reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography separations and was found to exhibit maximal UV absorbance at 269 nm with shoulders at 260 and 280 indicating the presence of a conjugated triene chromophore. Negative ion electron capture gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of the pentafluorobenzyl ester, trimethylsilyl ether derivative of HIV, and positive ion electron ionization mass spectra of the methyl ester trimethylsilyl derivative were consistent with a structure of this metabolite being 16-carboxy-14,15-dihydro-17,18,19,20-tetranor-LTB3. The appearance of this metabolite supports the concept of further beta-oxidation of LTB4 to the carbon 16 which requires the action of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase to remove the 14,15-double bond located two carbon atoms removed from the CoA thioester moiety. One minor metabolite was analyzed by negative ion continuous flow fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry which revealed an ion at m/z 444 which by high resolution mass spectrometry was shown to contain both nitrogen and sulfur. Tandem mass spectrometry suggested the presence of SO3- as well as other fragments corresponding to the amino acid taurine. Incubation of isolated rat hepatocytes with [14C]taurine as well as [3H]LTB4 revealed the incorporation of both radioactive isotopes into this metabolite. The data supported the identification of this metabolite as tauro-18-carboxy-19,20-dinor-LTB4. Amino acid conjugation of leukotrienes has not been previously reported and suggests that such intermediates might participate in enterohepatic circulation of LTB4 metabolites in the intact animal and thus serve as an alternative metabolic route for LTB4 elimination.     

The identification and formation of 20-aldehyde leukotriene B4

Microsomes of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in the presence of 100 microM NADPH converted 0.6 microM leukotriene B4 (LTB4) to 20-OH-LTB4 (retention time = 18.0 min) and to two additional compounds designated I (retention time = 16.8 min) and II (retention time = 9.6 min) as analyzed by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Compounds I and II were also formed from the reaction of 1.0 microM 20-OH-LTB4, PMN microsomes, and 100 microM NADPH; the identity of compound II was confirmed as 20-COOH-LTB4 by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Equine alcohol dehydrogenase in the presence of 100 microM NAD+ in 0.2 M glycine buffer (pH 10.0) converted 20-OH-LTB4 to 20-aldehyde (CHO) LTB4, which coeluted with compound I on reverse-phase HPLC. In the presence of 100 microM NADH in 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.5), equine alcohol dehydrogenase reduced both 20-CHO-LTB4 and compound I to 20-OH-LTB4, indicating the identity of compound I as 20-CHO-LTB4. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of trideuterated O-methyl-oxime trimethylsilyl ether methyl ester derivative of 3H-labeled compound I definitively established compound I as 20-CHO-LTB4. Addition of immune IgG to cytochrome P-450 reductase or 1.0 mM SKF-525A completely inhibited the formation of 20-CHO-LTB4 from 20-OH-LTB4, indicating that the reaction was catalyzed by a cytochrome P-450. LTB5 (3.0 microM), a known substrate for cytochrome P-450LTB and a competitive inhibitor of LTB4 omega-oxidation, completely inhibited the omega-oxidation of 1.5 microM 20-OH-LTB4 to 20-CHO-LTB4, indicating that the cytochrome P-450 was P-450LTB. Conversion of 1.0 microM 20-CHO-LTB4 to 20-COOH-LTB4 by PMN microsomes was also dependent on NADPH and inhibited by antibody to cytochrome P-450 reductase, 1.0 mM SKF-525A, or 5.0 microM LTB5, indicating that this reaction was also catalyzed by cytochrome P-450LTB. These results identify the novel metabolite 20-CHO-LTB4 and indicate that cytochrome P-450LTB catalyzes three sequential omega-oxidations of LTB4 leading to the formation of 20-COOH-LTB4 via 20-OH-LTB4 and 20-CHO-LTB4 intermediates.     

Urinary metabolites of leukotriene B4 in the human subject

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent chemoattractant for neutrophils and is thought to play a role in a variety of inflammatory responses in humans. The metabolism of LTB4 in vitro is complex with several competing pathways of biotransformation, but metabolism in vivo, especially for normal human subjects, is poorly understood. As part of a Phase I Clinical Trial of human tolerance to LTB4, four human subjects were injected with 150 nmol/kg LTB4 with one additional subject as placebo control. The urine of the subjects was collected in two separate pools (0-6 and 7-24 h), and aliquots from these urine collections were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography, UV spectroscopy, and negative ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry for metabolites of LTB4. In the current investigation, 11 different metabolites of LTB4 were identified in the urine from those subjects injected with LTB4, and none were present in the urine from the placebo-injected subject. The unconjugated LTB4 metabolites found in urine were structurally characterized as 18-carboxy-LTB4, 10,11-dihydro-18-carboxy-LTB4, 20-carboxy-LTB4, and 10,11-dihydro-20-carboxy-LTB4. Several glucuronide-conjugated metabolites of LTB4 were characterized including 17-, 18-, 19-, and 20-hydroxy-LTB4, 10-hydroxy-4,6,12-octadecatrienoic acid, LTB4, and 10,11-dihydro-LTB4. The amount of LTB4 glucuronide (16.7-29.4 pmol/ml) and 20-carboxy-LTB4 (18.9-30.6 pmol/ml) present in the urine of subjects injected with LTB4 was determined using an isotope dilution mass spectrometric assay before and after treatment of the urine samples with beta-glucuronidase. The urinary metabolites of LTB4 identified in this investigation were excreted in low amounts, yet it is possible that one or more of these metabolites could be used to assess LTB4 biosynthesis following activation of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in vivo.     

The development of a sensitive and specific radioreceptor assay for leukotriene B4

To establish a simple and sensitive quantitation of leukotriene B4 (LTB4), we developed a radioreceptor assay (RRA) using a highly specific [3H]leukotriene B4[( 3H]LTB4) binding to a guinea pig spleen homogenate. The assay detected LTB4 levels as low as 0.12 pmol per tube. Fifty percent inhibition of bound [3H]LTB4 was obtained by 2.5 nM of unlabeled LTB4. [3H]LTB4 competition studies indicated that 20-hydroxy-LTB4 was 8 times, 6-trans-LTB4 was 640 times and 20-carboxy-LTB4 was 1000 times less effective than LTB4. The peptide leukotrienes C4, D4 and E4 showed no effect on [3H]LTB4 binding. Recovery rates averaged 97% after ethanol extraction and evaporation of known amounts of LTB4. The intra-assay coefficients of variation for three samples were 2.4%, 7.2% and 8.4%, respectively. This assay was validated by measuring LTB4 released from human granulocytes stimulated with calcium ionophore A23187. The LTB4 level was maximal at 10 min (156.8 +/- 36.2 pmol/3 x 10(6) cells) and decreased rapidly after 15 min. This radioreceptor assay for leukotriene B4 is highly sensitive and is comparable to the reported sensitivity by radioimmunoassay. The method is simpler and less expensive than other methods such as high pressure liquid chromatography and is suitable for routine measurement of leukotriene B4.     

Quantitation of leukotriene B4 in human serum by negative ion gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent chemotactic agent formed via the 5-lipoxygenase pathway from arachidonic acid. To understand the role LTB4 plays in several pathological processes it is essential that endogenous concentrations of LTB4 be accurately quantitated. We have developed a method based on electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry for the analysis of LTB4 in serum at low picogram per milliliter concentrations. Blood is collected into the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) to suppress ex vivo formation. Serum is isolated, equilibrated with the internal standard [2H4]LTB4, and extracted using octadecyl-silica (C-18) cartridges. After conversion of the carboxylic acids to their pentafluorobenzyl esters the extract is purified by straight-phase HPLC. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis is accomplished on the tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether derivatives using dual-selected ion monitoring of m/z 431 and 435. These ions correspond to loss of tert-butyldimethylsilanol from the (M-PFB)- ion of endogenous and [2H4]LTB4, respectively. The concentration of LTB4 in human serum samples was 10.0 +/- 4.0 pg/ml (n = 5). The assay exhibited satisfactory precision, with an intraassay coefficient of variation of 17% and a high degree of accuracy. The concentration of LTB4 in serum collected with (NDGA) was less than 10% of that observed in blood collected without the lipoxygenase inhibitor. Ex vivo formation can therefore be a major obstacle in assessing circulating levels of LTB4.     

Metabolism of leukotriene B4 in isolated rat hepatocytes. Identification of a novel 18-carboxy-19,20-dinor leukotriene B4 metabolite

Isolated rat heptocytes were found to metabolize leukotriene B4 (LTB4) to a number of products which could be separated by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After incubation of LTB4 with hepatocytes for 15 min, the known omega-oxidized metabolites, 20-hydroxy- and 20-carboxy-LTB4, were identified by HPLC retention time and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. An early fraction corresponding to 15% of the initial LTB4 was structurally characterized as a novel metabolite, 18-carboxy-19,20-dinor-LTB4, by ultraviolet spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the derivatized and derivatized, reduced metabolite. The short HPLC retention time of this metabolite was consistent with its reduced lipophilicity. An additional minor metabolite was tentatively identified as 3-hydroxy-LTB4. These two novel metabolites provide evidence for beta-oxidation as an important route of hepatic biotransformation of LTB4 and 20-hydroxy-LTB4.     

The treatment of tinea with topically applied leukotriene B4

Important roles of neutrophils as well as lymphocytes against invasive fungi has been suggested. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent chemoattractant for neutrophils and its topical application to human skin has already been performed without serious side effects, forming intraepidermal neutrophil abscesses. Thus topical LTB4 therapy for tinea was attempted in a randomized, placebo-controlled study. LTB4 (100-900 ng depending on the area of each lesion) was applied to a whole lesion once a week until, as a rule, complete clearing was observed but maximum for 2 weeks (vesiculobullous type lesions), 5 weeks (patches with or without raised borders) or 7 weeks (macerated lesions between toes). As a result, 16 of 18 lesions treated with LTB4 were cleared either completely (13) or partially (3). In contrast, only 2 of 18 lesions treated with vehicle (50% ethanol) were cleared partially. Statistical analysis with chi 2 test revealed a significant efficacy of LTB4 over vehicle. Topical LTB4 will be used as a powerful antifungal regimen. LTB4 has not been used for infectious diseases before.     

Immunosuppressive effect of leukotriene B(4) receptor antagonist in vitro.

Leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)), which is an arachidonic acid metabolite produced by the 5-lipoxygenase pathway and a well-characterized chemical mediator of inflammation, has been proposed to be an immune response modulator. Here we showed the constitutive expression of the LTB(4) receptor (LTB(4)R) in resting and activated T cells. We found that the LTB(4)R antagonist inhibited T cell proliferation induced by Con A, immobilized anti-CD3 mAb, or IL-2. This inhibitory effect was abolished by addition of LTB(4)R agonist. The LTB(4)R antagonist inhibited IL-2, IFN-gamma, and IL-4 production by anti-CD3-stimulated T cells and also inhibited IL-12-induced IFN-gamma production. Moreover, the LTB(4)R antagonist exerted an additive inhibitory effect to FK506 on T cell proliferation. These results suggest that LTB(4) is intrinsically involved in T cell activation to upregulate cytokine production and proliferation, and thus the LTB(4)R antagonist might be useful as an immunosuppressive agent.     

The metabolism "in vitro" of leukotriene B4 in blood of normal subjects and asthmatic patients

The metabolism of exogenous leukotriene B4 (LTB4) was investigated in venous blood obtained from normal and asthmatic subjects. Using specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) techniques we have demonstrated that LTB4 is relatively stable during a 2 hr incubation period at 37 degrees C in our system in vitro. Nevertheless, chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of two products which had retention times identical to 20-hydroxy LTB4 (20-0H LTB4) and 20-carboxy LTB4 (20-C00H LTB4) in which the dicarboxylic derivative was the main metabolite present after 15 min incubation. The amount of LTB4 and its w-oxidation products observed after a 2 hr incubation period was 73% and 24% respectively. There was no basal release of LTB4 from blood. The appearance of these oxidative products was totally suppressed at 4 degrees C and with incubations performed with either venous plasma or Hartmann's control. No significant difference was observed in substrate metabolism between normal and asthmatic subjects. Our results demonstrate that LTB4 is slowly degraded in human whole blood through a cellular dependent process of w-oxidation which may be an important pathway for regulating the availability of this potent biologically active substance.