Studies on the mechanism of formation of the 5S, 12S-dihydroxy-6,8,10,14(E,Z,E,Z)-icosatetraenoic acid in leukocytes.

Incubation of peripheral blood leukocytes with arachidonic acid (and ionophore A23187) led to the formation of leukotriene B4, delta 6-trans-leukotriene B4, delta 6-trans-12-epi-leukotriene B4, 5-hydroxy-icosatetraenoic acid, 12-hydroxy-icosatetraenoic acid and of 5S,12S-dihydroxy-6,8,10,14-(E,Z,E,Z)-icosatetraenoic acid (5S,12S-DiHETE). Incubation of leukocytes with leukotriene A4 resulted in the formation of leukotriene B4 and of its two delta 6-trans-isomers but not of the 5S, 12S-DiHETE. 18O2 labeling experiments have shown that the hydroxyl groups at C5 and C12 in the 5S,12S-DiHETE are derived from molecular oxygen. The tetraacetylenic analog of arachidonic acid was found to be potent inhibitor of the formation of the 5S,12S-DiHETE whereas it potentiated the synthesis of the 5-hydroxy acid and of leukotriene B4. Addition of the 12-hydroxy-icosatetraenoic acid to leukocytes, or of the 5-hydroxy-icosatetraenoic acid to a suspension of platelets caused the formation of the 5S,12S-DiHETE. It is concluded that the 5S,12S-DiHETE is not derived from leukotriene A4 but is a product of the successive reactions of arachidonic acid with two lipoxygenases of different positional specificities.