title: Differential modulation of leukotriene B4 synthesis and degradation in human bronchoalveolar lavage cells by lipopolysaccharide and tobacco smoke.
abstract: Leukotrienes have been implicated to play a prominent inductive role in carcinogenesis. We previously reported that bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from smokers manifested higher levels of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production than ex-smokers. This study aims to elucidate the underlying mechanism(s). BAL cells from current and former smokers were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for up to 7 days. LPS induced the release of LTB4 from BAL cells and down-regulated 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner, followed by a decrease in 5-LOX protein production and normalization of LTB4 levels. Exogenous LTB4 inhibited LPS-induced 5-LOX activity and accentuated the down-regulation of 5-LOX mRNA, whereas suppression of 5-LOX abrogated the LPS-induced changes, suggesting a negative feedback mechanism. LPS concomitantly induced expression and activity of the LTB4 metabolizing enzyme LTB4 omega-hydroxylase (LTB4OH) in ex-smokers' BAL cells, but not in smokers' BAL cells. In vitro smoke exposure of ex-smokers' BAL cells also abrogated the LPS-induced up-regulation of LTB4OH mRNA expression. Furthermore, ex-smokers' BAL cells expressed significantly higher LTB4OH mRNA levels than smokers' BAL cells. Such differential modulation of LTB4 synthesis and degradation by LPS in the setting of tobacco smoke exposure suggests that mechanisms responsible for sustained elevation of LTB4 levels in the lung microenvironment may contribute to the pathogenesis of tobacco-related respiratory diseases such as lung cancer. By regulating the balance of LTB4 in the lung, LTB4OH may function as a suppressor of lung carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, CHS 37-131, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1690, USA. jmao@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Jenny T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Donald P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Tashkin
authors.forename: I-Hsien
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Tsu
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Serio
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000072470:Cytochrome P450 Family 4; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase; D000072470:Cytochrome P450 Family 4; C040780:leukotriene B4 20-hydroxylase