5-Lipoxygenase, a key enzyme for leukotriene biosynthesis in health and disease.

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) catalyzes two steps in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes (LTs), lipid mediators of inflammation derived from arachidonic acid. In this review we focus on 5-LOX biochemistry including 5-LOX interacting proteins and regulation of enzyme activity. LTs function in normal host defense, and have roles in many disease states where acute or chronic inflammation is part of the pathophysiology, as briefly summarized at the end of this chapter. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Oxygenated metabolism of PUFA: analysis and biological relevance".