title: Lipoxins A4 and B4: comparison of icosanoids having bronchoconstrictor and vasodilator actions but lacking platelet aggregatory activity.
abstract: Lipoxins A4 (LxA4) and B4 (LxB4), two lipoxygenase-generated icosanoids of arachidonic acid metabolism, were found to have a distinct biological profile. Both LxA4 and LxB4 slowly contracted pulmonary parenchymal strips isolated from guinea pigs, rabbits, and rats in a concentration-dependent manner over the range 0.1-1 microM. This bronchoconstrictor effect was not associated with release of peptide leukotrienes or thromboxane A2, nor was it blocked by lipoxygenase inhibitors or thromboxane receptor antagonists, suggesting it is a direct effect of lipoxins. However, the leukotriene D4 (LTD4) receptor antagonist LY-171883 reduced the LxA4 response, indicating that LTD4 and LxA4 may share the same receptor. LxA4 and LxB4 also exerted an endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in guinea pig, rat, and, to a lesser extent, rabbit aortic vascular smooth muscle. In contrast to other vasoactive icosanoids, LxA4 and LxB4 failed to aggregate rat, rabbit, or guinea pig platelets or to inhibit ADP-induced aggregation. LxA4 also enhanced the release of liver lysosomal hydrolases in a liver large granule fraction, indicating a lysosomal labilizing action of LxA4. LxA4 and LxB4 share a similar biological profile. It is not clear yet whether the lipoxins could be mediators of circulatory or pulmonary disease states.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lefer
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lefer
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Brezinski
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Nicolaou
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Veale
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044045:Lipoxins; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; D044045:Lipoxins; C040527:lipoxin A4; C042651:lipoxin B4