Stimulation of lipoxygenase product synthesis in human leukocytes and platelets by melittin.

The effects of melittin on the synthesis of lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid in human leukocytes and platelets were studied using high performance liquid chromatography. Melittin was found to stimulate strongly the formation of leukotrienes and hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) in a concentration-dependent fashion. The metabolites detected were LTB4, omega-OH-LTB4, omega-COOH-LTB4, LTC4, 5-HETE, 12-HETE, 15-HETE, 5S,12S-DiHETE, and 5S,15S-DiHETE. These results suggest that the action of melittin on the formation of arachidonic acid metabolites might be involved in its ability to release endogenous substrates required for the synthesis of 5-, 15-, and 12-lipoxygenase products in leukocytes and platelets, respectively.