The hepoxilins. A review.

This manuscript reviews the literature on hepoxilins to date. It affords a review of the structures, nomenclature, biosynthesis, catabolism and biological actions of the hepoxilins and some of their chemical analogs. Some unpublished data are also presented. The primary biological action of the hepoxilins appears to relate to their ability to release calcium from intracellular stores through a receptor-mediated action. The receptor is intracellular, and appears to be G-protein coupled. The conversion of hepoxilin into its omega-hydroxy catabolite has recently been demonstrated through the action of an omega-hydroxylase. This enzyme is different from that which oxidizes leukotriene B4, as the former activity is lost when the cell is disrupted, while leukotriene B4-catabolic activity is recovered in both the intact and disrupted cell. Additionally, hepoxilin catabolism is inhibited by CCCP, a mitochondrial uncoupler, while leukotriene catabolism is unaffected. As hepoxilins cause the translocation of calcium from intracellular stores in the endoplasmic reticulum to the mitochondria, it is speculated that hepoxilin omega-oxidation takes place in the mitochondria, and the omega-oxidation product facilitates accumulation of the elevated cytosolic calcium by the mitochondria. The biological activity of stable analogs of the hepoxilins is also described which inhibit the calcium-releasing actions of neutrophil inflammatory mediators.