Detection of endogenous 12-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid in human tear film.
OBJECTIVE
Increased production of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [12(R)-HETE] and 12-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid [12(R)-HETrE] positively correlates with the in vivo progression of ocular surface inflammation in rabbits. Tear film was collected from human subjects with inflamed eyes to determine whether these eicosanoids could be detected from endogenous sources.


METHODS
Control and inflamed eyes were assessed and assigned a subjective inflammatory score. Tears were collected and extracted with an internal standard. Single-ion-monitoring gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SIM-GC-MS) was performed to quantitate endogenous levels of 12-HETE and 12-HETrE.


RESULTS
12-HETrE was detected in the tear film of both control and inflamed eyes, with the mean level being seven times higher in inflamed tears. 12-HETE was not detected in control tears and was detected in only 6 of 38 inflamed-eye tear samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The current findings demonstrate that the human eye produces detectable amounts of 12-HETrE, which is released into the tear flow. The increased levels of 12-HETrE associated with ocular surface inflammation suggest that this eicosanoid may contribute to inflammation of the ocular surface in humans.
Mieyal
P A
PA
Department of Pharmacology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
Dunn
M W
MW
Schwartzman
M L
ML
D019377:12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000378:metabolism; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000378:metabolism; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D015863:Iridocyclitis / Q000378:metabolism; D007634:Keratitis / Q000378:metabolism; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000378:metabolism; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000378:metabolism; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*
D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D019377:12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid