title: Biosynthesis and biological activity of leukotriene B4.
abstract: The leukotrienes are a family of biologically active molecules derived from arachidonic acid. While prostaglandins and thromboxanes are products of the cyclooxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism, the leukotrienes are formed by arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme present in phagocytes, mast cells, and basophils. Inflammatory stimuli, such as chemotactic peptides, platelet-activating factor, phagocytic particles, and immunological stimuli, which activate phagocytes and mast cells, stimulate leukotriene synthesis. Leukotriene B4, a dihydroxy derivative of arachidonic acid, has a unique stimulatory activity on important functional responses of phagocytes; leukotriene B4 exerts chemotactic and chemokinetic activity towards phagocytes in vitro and in vivo, and it is a putative mediator of inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Inflammation and Immunology-Rheumatology Research Unit, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, Canada.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borgeat
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Naccache
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007975:Leukotriene B4; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase