Intracellular cold trapping of exogenous arachidonic acid and activation of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway of human neutrophils.

Exogenous arachidonic acid was trapped in human leukocytes with ethanol at 0 degrees C and 16 degrees C. Leukotriene B4 and its isomers were produced from the trapped substrate, and this production continued for at least 24 h at 0 degrees C. Synthesis from trapped substrate of these eicosanoids increased as a function of the incubation temperature. The ability to study leukotriene synthesis and intercellular transfer from exogenous but intracellularly trapped substrate without the multiple effects of cell activators may be of value in elucidating the metabolism and regulatory properties of these lipoxygenase products.