Inhibition of human natural killer cell activity by (14R,15S)-14,15-dihydroxy-5Z,8Z,10E,12E- icosatetraenoic acid.

The interactions between products of the 15-lipoxygenase cascade and human natural killer (NK) cell activity have been studied. Addition of human leukocyte-derived (14R,15S)-14,15-dihydroxy-5Z,8Z,10E,12E-ic osatetraenoic acid (14,15-DiHETE) to the NK cytotoxicity assay against K562 target cells resulted in inhibition of NK cell activity, whereas addition of other 15-lipoxygenase-associated metabolites [i.e., (15S)-15-hydroperoxy-5Z,8Z,11Z,13E-icosatetra eno ic acid, (15S)-15-hydroxy-5Z,8Z,11Z,13E-icosatetraenoic acid, and (8R,15S)- and (8S,15S)-8,15-dihydroxy-5Z,9E,-11E,13E-icosat etr aenoic acid isomers] resulted in little or no inhibition of NK function. Dose-response studies indicate that leukocyte-derived 14,15-DiHETE and 14,15-DiHETE methyl ester, at micromolar concentrations, inhibit NK function even in the presence of 2.5% fetal calf serum. Synthetic 14,15-DiHETE prepared by total organic synthesis displayed similar biological activities over identical dose ranges. These icosanoids do not inhibit NK target cell binding and they exert only a variable effect in either antibody-dependent cytotoxicity or cytotoxic T-lymphocyte assays. These results demonstrate that the 14,15-DiHETE inhibits NK cell function in vitro. Moreover, they suggest that activation of the 15-lipoxygenase cascade and formation of 14,15-DiHETE in vivo may provide a mode of immune regulation.