title: Leukotrienes: underappreciated mediators of innate immune responses.
abstract: Leukotrienes are bronchoconstrictor and vasoactive lipid mediators that are targets in the treatment of asthma. Although they are increasingly recognized to exert broad proinflammatory effects, their role in innate immune responses is less well appreciated. These molecules are indeed synthesized by resident and recruited leukocytes during infection. Acting via cell surface G protein-coupled receptors and subsequent intracellular signaling events, they enhance leukocyte accumulation, phagocyte capacity for microbial ingestion and killing, and generation of other proinflammatory mediators. Interestingly, a variety of acquired states of immunodeficiency, such as HIV infection and malnutrition, are characterized by a relative deficiency of leukotriene synthesis. The data reviewed herein point to leukotrienes as underappreciated yet highly relevant mediators of innate immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, USA. petersm@umich.edu
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peters-Golden
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Canetti
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Coffey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology*; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015289:Leukotrienes