Regulation of leukocyte and platelet lipoxygenases by hydroxyeicosanoids.

During allergic and inflammatory reactions, arachidonic acid is oxidized by lipoxygenases to a variety of biologically active products, including leukotrienes. The mechanisms for regulation of the different lipoxygenase activities are not well defined. We report here that [14C]arachidonic acid metabolism by the 5- and 15-lipoxygenase activities in rabbit leukocytes and the 12-lipoxygenase in rabbit platelets is inhibited by various hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). 15-HETE was the most effective inhibitor of the 5- and 12-lipoxygenases, whereas similar inhibitory potencies were observed for 5-HETE and 12-HETE acting on the 15-lipoxygenase. These three enzyme pathways were all least sensitive to their own products HETEs. To determine which structural characteristics of 15-HETE are essential for inhibition of the 5-lipoxygenase, various derivatives were prepared and purified by high pressure liquid chromatography, and their structures were confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The inhibitory potencies of 15-HETE analogs with different degrees of unsaturation were in the order of three double bonds greater than 4 greater than 2 greater than 0. 15-Hydroperoxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-HPETE) was four times more potent than 15-HETE. The 15-acetoxy, 15-keto and methyl ester derivatives were of comparable activity to 15-HETE, and the 15-acetoxy methyl ester derivative was less potent. Based upon the observed patterns of inhibition, we postulate that complex interregulatory relationships exist between the various lipoxygenases, and that cells containing these lipoxygenases may interact with each other via their lipoxygenase metabolites.