Human B lymphocytes possess 5-lipoxygenase activity and convert arachidonic acid to leukotriene B4.

Incubation of cell sonicates from monoclonal B cells with arachidonic acid led to the formation of leukotriene (LT) B4 and 5-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE). In contrast, stimulation of intact B cells with the calcium ionophore A23187 +/- arachidonic acid did not, under similar conditions, lead to formation of LTB4. The identification of these products was based on reverse phase- and straight phase-HPLC analysis, UV-spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Cell sonicates of highly enriched human tonsillar B lymphocytes also converted arachidonic acid to LTB4 and 5-HETE. Activation of these cells with B cell mitogen and cytokines for three days led to an upregulation of 5-lipoxygenase activity. This study provides evidence for the biosynthesis of LTB4 from arachidonic acid in B cell lines and in normal human tonsillar B lymphocytes.