title: Leukotrienes in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
abstract: Leukotrienes (LTs) are lipid mediators derived from the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism and are markers and mediators of pulmonary inflammation. Research over the past two decades has established that LTs modulate inflammation in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The purpose of this review was to summarize the current knowledge of LTs in the pathophysiology of PAH and to highlight a recent study that advances our understanding of how leukotriene B4 (LTB4) specifically contributes to pulmonary vascular remodeling. The results of these studies suggest that pharmacological inhibition of LT pathways, especially LTB4, has high potential for the treatment of PAH.
authors.affiliation: VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Stanford University, Med111P, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Xinguo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yon K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nicolls
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015289:Leukotrienes; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II