title: Transcellular biosynthesis of arachidonic acid metabolites: from in vitro investigations to in vivo reality.
abstract: The discovery that arachidonic acid metabolism in a multicellular environment could be different from that expected from the sum of individual cell types has led to the concept of transcellular metabolism. In this process, several cells can contribute to the formation of a novel compound with potent biological action. The study of this mode of synthesis is important in the context of the current appraisal of thrombotic diseases as part of an inflammatory reaction. In this context, blood cell-vessel wall interactions present a regulated expression of adhesive molecules on either type of cell. These complex processes are initiated by signalling molecules such as cytokines that can deeply modify the phenotype of endothelial cells, which may ultimately lead to a change in the vascular tone and to atherosclerotic complications. Such reaction processes are part of the autocrine-endocrine system whereby cells can control and modify their own phenotype through the action of a local network of mediators. In this context, arachidonic acid metabolites may be an important part of unifying signal molecules that participate in these changes. The significance of transcellular biosynthesis where combined cells acquire a different metabolic potential can be viewed as an additional modification of blood cell and vessel cell phenotype in thrombotic diseases.
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Hôpital Lariboisière U348, INSERM, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maclouf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019040:E-Selectin; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000378:metabolism; D019007:P-Selectin; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D015777:Eicosanoids; D015289:Leukotrienes; D019007:P-Selectin; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D016718:Arachidonic Acid