Preferential increase in prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase compared with lipoxygenase activity in sheep placenta and amnion at term pregnancy and after intrafetal glucocorticoid administration

1993 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Langlois ◽  
L. J. Fraher ◽  
M. W. Khalil ◽  
M. Fraser ◽  
J. R. G. Challis

ABSTRACT Prostaglandins (PGs) have been implicated as stimulants to myometrial contractility at parturition in many species. To determine whether the increased production of PGs at parturition reflects a general increase in the metabolism of arachidonic acid or a specific increase in PG endoperoxide H synthase (PGHS) compared with lipoxygenase activities, and to determine intrauterine sites of these activities, we examined the metabolism of [3H]arachidonic acid by homogenates of placenta, amnion and chorion from sheep at days 78–80, 100–105, 135–140 of pregnancy and at term (day 145). Tissues were also obtained from fetuses at day 125; four of these were infused for 84 h with cortisol and four were used as saline-treated controls. The endogenous arachidonic acid content at the start of incubation was measured by capillary gas chromatography. Radioactive metabolites were separated and quantified by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. At each gestational age arachidonic acid was converted to PGs, leukotrienes (LTs) and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). Conversion to PGs was greater in amnion than in chorion or placenta between days 78 and 140. The formation of PGs rose in placenta at term to a mean value twice that of amnion and ten times that of chorion. In amnion, the ratio of PG: LT rose significantly at term relative to 100–140 days of gestation. In placenta, the ratio of PG: LT produced from arachidonic acid and the ratio of total PGHS: lipoxygenase products rose significantly at term. In the day-125 fetuses treated with cortisol there was a significant increase in PG production relative to that in control fetuses infused with saline in placenta, amnion and chorion; the placenta and amnion being the major sites of PG production. Production of LTs and HETEs also rose significantly in the chorion and the placenta relative to controls. In both the placenta and the amnion there was a significant increase in the ratio of total PGHS to lipoxygenase products formed. We conclude that at term labour and in labour induced by intrafetal cortisol infusion, the placenta is the major site of arachidonic acid metabolism, and that there is a preferential increase in the formation of PGs over lipoxygenase products. These results are consistent with the suggestion that there is an increase in the expression or activity of PGHS in the placenta of sheep in late pregnancy. Journal of Endocrinology (1993) 139, 195–204

Author(s):  
Elisa Domi ◽  
Malvina Hoxha ◽  
Bianka Hoxha ◽  
Bruno Zappacosta

Purpose: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) has been considered a risk factor for different diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD), inflammation, neurological diseases, cancer and many other pathological conditions. Likewise, arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism is implicated in both vascular homeostasis and inflammation as shown by the development of CVD following the imbalance of its metabolites. Aim of The Review: This review summarizes how homocysteine (Hcy) can influence the metabolism of AA. Methods: In silico literature searches were performed on PubMed and Scopus as main sources. Results: Several studies have shown that altered levels of Hcy, through AA release and metabolism, can influence the synthesis and the activity of prostaglandins (PGs), prostacyclin (PGI₂), thromboxane (TXA), epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). Conclusions: We believe that by targeting Hcy in AA pathways, novel compounds with better pharmacological and pharmacodynamics benefits may be obtained and that this information is valuable for dietician to manipulate diets to improve health.


1988 ◽  
Vol 167 (2) ◽  
pp. 623-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
A A Aderem ◽  
Z A Cohn

LPS, a major component of Gram-negative bacterial cell walls, prime macrophages for greatly enhanced arachidonic acid [20:4] metabolism when the cells are subsequently stimulated. The LPS-primed macrophage has been used as a model system in which to study the role of Ca2+ in the regulation of 20:4 metabolism. The Ca2+ ionophore A23187 (0.1 microM) triggered the rapid release of 20:4 metabolites from LPS-primed macrophages but not from cells not previously exposed to LPS. Macrophages required exposure to LPS for at least 40 min before A23187 became effective as a trigger. A23187 (0.1 microM) also synergized with PMA in activating macrophage 20:4 metabolism. The PMA effect could be distinguished from that of LPS since no preincubation with PMA was required. A23187 greatly increased the amount of lipoxygenase products secreted from LPS-primed macrophages, leukotriene C4 synthesis being increased 150-fold. LPS-primed macrophages, partially permeabilized to Ca2+ with A23187, were used to titrate the Ca2+ concentration dependence of the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. Cyclooxygenase metabolites were detected at an order of magnitude lower Ca2+ concentration than were lipoxygenase products. The data suggest that Ca2+ regulates macrophage 20:4 metabolism at two distinct steps: an increase in intracellular Ca2+ regulates the triggering signal and relatively higher Ca2+ concentrations are required for 5-lipoxygenase activity.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (6) ◽  
pp. C849-C853 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Postoak ◽  
L. Nystuen ◽  
L. King ◽  
M. Ueno ◽  
B. S. Beckman

The role of specific products of the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism has been investigated in the Friend erythroleukemia cell line, a model system for erythroid cell differentiation. When triggered with agents such as hexamethylene-bis-acetamide, these cells mature as normal erythroid cells. 15-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) was identified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and by radioimmunoassay as the principal lipoxygenase metabolite produced by Friend cells. Its production was significantly lower (903 +/- 73 pg/ml) in stationary-phase cells compared with logarithmic-phase cells (1,496 +/- 24 pg/ml). In addition, inhibitors of both the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways (phenidone, BW 755C, caffeic acid, nordihydroguaiaretic acid and BW 4AC) significantly blocked DNA synthesis (P less than 0.05), whereas neither specific inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase pathway (aspirin or sodium meclofenate) blocked DNA synthesis. The addition of 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid as well as 15-HETE to Friend cells produced an increase in DNA synthesis as assessed by [3H]thymidine incorporation in differentiating cells but not in proliferating cells. These data support a role for 15-lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism in maintaining DNA synthesis.


1988 ◽  
Vol 254 (6) ◽  
pp. C809-C815 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Brown ◽  
M. M. Monick ◽  
G. W. Hunninghake

Metabolites of arachidonic acid are potent modulators of many biological events, and their release from macrophages appears to play an important role in immune and inflammatory processes. In addition, metabolites of the cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase pathway exhibit distinct biological effects. We used a method to determine if human alveolar macrophages (HAM) could be selectively activated to release products of cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid. HAM obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage from individuals were [3H]arachidonic acid labeled and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Ca ionophore A23187. Essentially no arachidonate metabolites were released by unstimulated cells. LPS caused dose- and time-dependent release of arachidonate and only cyclooxygenase products; no lipoxygenase products were detected, even in presence of cyclooxygenase inhibition. Metabolites released in response to LPS included thromboxane B2, prostaglandins D2, F2a, E2, and hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid. A23187 caused a rapid release of arachidonate and 5-lipoxygenase products, leukotriene B4 and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid; no cyclooxygenase inhibition. This demonstrates that HAM are specifically activated to release metabolites derived from cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid. Additionally, shunting down an alternate pathway is not induced by use of inhibitors of either pathway. This suggests alveolar macrophages may enhance or suppress various inflammatory or immune processes in lung, in part, by selective release of various derivatives of arachidonic acid.


1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
pp. 936-942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Borgeat

Three mammalian lipoxygenases have been reported to date. They catalyze the insertion of oxygen at positions 5, 12, and 15 of various 20-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids. In the case of arachidonic acid, the immediate products are hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HPETEs). HPETEs can undergo different transformations. One reaction is a reduction of the hydroperoxy group yielding the corresponding hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). In the neutrophils, the major pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism is the 5-lipoxygenase. In these cells the 5-HPETE undergoes a cyclization reaction leading to a 5(6)-epoxy(oxido)eicosatetraenoic acid or leukotriene A4. The 5(6)-epoxy fatty acid can undergo three additional transformations: (a) a nonenzymatic hydrolysis to epimeric dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (diHETEs); (b) stereospecific enzymatic hydrolysis to a specific diHETE, leukotriene B4; or (c) ring opening by reduced glutathione (GSH) to yield a peptidolipid, named leukotriene C4, in which GSH is attached via a sulfoether linkage. The leukotrienes constitute a group of biologically active substances probably involved in allergic and inflammatory reactions. The 5(6)-epoxy-eicosatetraenoic acid and the products derived from it contain a conjugated triene unit; the term leukotriene also denotes the cells (leukocytes) recognized to form these products, mainly the neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, mast cells, and macrophages. In the present article various aspects of the biochemistry of the lipoxygenase pathways of neutrophils are reviewed.Key words: arachidonic acid, leukotrienes, leukocytes, lipoxygenase, inflammation.


1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
V L Mointire ◽  
A J Frangos ◽  
G B Rhee ◽  
G S Eskin ◽  
R E Hall

The subject of this work is to examine the hypothesis that some sublytic levels of mechanical perturbation of cells can stimulate cell metabolism. As a marker metabolite, we have chosen arachidonic acid. Principal metabolites for platelets include the cyclooxygenase product thromboxane A2(TXA2) and the lipoxygenase product 12-hydroperoxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HPETE). Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) initally produce principally 5-HPETE, somtimes leading to the formation leukotrienes, though many other metabolites of arachidonic acid have been isolated from activated neutrophils. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells utilize arachidonic acid to produce mainly prostaglandin I2(PGI2). All of these metabolites are biologically active and modulate cell function - sometimes in quite contrasting ways. We will show that levels of sublytic mechanical stress exposure can stimulate arachidonic acid metabolism in all three of the cell types mentioned above. The biological implications of this stress/metabolism coupling may be quite far reaching.Human platelets, leukocytes and endothelial cells all appear to be sensitive to mechanical stress induced activation of arachidonic acid metabolism. Sheared PRP exhibited greatly increased synthesis of 12-HETE and surprisingly little thromboxane B2 production. This indicates that shear stress stimulation of platelets may produce quite different arachidonic acid metabolism than that seen with many direct chemical stimuli, such as thrombin or collagen.Our data demonstrate that a substance derived from shear induced platelet activation may activate the C-5 lipoxygenase of human PMNL under stress, leading to the production of LTB4. We hypothesize that this substance maybe 12-HPETE. LTB4 is known to be a very potent chemotactic factor and to induce PMNL aggregation and degranulation. Our studies provide further evidence that lipoxygenase products of one cell type can modulate production of lipoxygenase products in a second cell type, and that shear stress can initiate cell activation. This kind of coupling could have far reaching implications in terms of our understanding of cell/cell interaction in flowing systems, such as acute inflammation, artificial organ implantation and tumor metastasis.The data on PGI2 production by endothelial cells demonstrate that physiological levels of shear stress can dramatically increase arachidonic acid metabolism. Step increases in shear stress lead to a burst in production of PGI2 which decayed to a steady state value in several minutes. This longer term stimulation of prostacyclin production rate increased linearly with shear stress over the range of 0-24 dynes/cm2. In addition, pulsatile flow of physiological frequency and amplitude caused approximately 2.4 times the PGI2 production rate as steady flow with the same mean stress. Although only PGI2 was measured, it is likely that other arachidonic acid metabolites of endothelial cells are also affected by shear stress.The ability of cells to respond to external stimuli involves the transduction of a signal across the plasma membrane. One such external stimulus appears to be fluid shear stress. Steady shear flow induces cell rotation in suspended cells, leading to a periodic membrane loading, with the peak stress proportional to the bulk shear stress. On anchorage-dependent cells, such as endothelial cells, steady shear stress may act by amplifying the natural thermal or Brownian fluttering or rippling of the membrane. There are several possible mechanisms by which shear stress induced membrane perturbation could mimic a hormone/receptor interaction, leading to increased intracellular metabolism. Shear stress may induce increased phospholipase C activity, caused by translocation of the enzyme, increased substrate (arachidonic acid) pool availability to phospholipase C (particularly from that stored in phosphoinositols) due to shear-induced membrane movements or changes in membrane fluidity, direct activation of calcium - activated phospholipase A2 by increased membrane calcium ion permeability, or most probably by a combination of these mechanisms.


Author(s):  
John Turk ◽  
Thomas H. Rand ◽  
Richard L. Maas ◽  
John A. Lawson ◽  
Alan R. Brash ◽  
...  

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