title: Mammalian lipoxygenases and their biological relevance.
abstract: Lipoxygenases (LOXs) form a heterogeneous class of lipid peroxidizing enzymes, which have been implicated not only in cell proliferation and differentiation but also in the pathogenesis of various diseases with major public health relevance. As other fatty acid dioxygenases LOXs oxidize polyunsaturated fatty acids to their corresponding hydroperoxy derivatives, which are further transformed to bioactive lipid mediators (eicosanoids and related substances). On the other hand, lipoxygenases are key players in the regulation of the cellular redox homeostasis, which is an important element in gene expression regulation. Although the first mammalian lipoxygenases were discovered 40 years ago and although the enzymes have been well characterized with respect to their structural and functional properties the biological roles of the different lipoxygenase isoforms are not completely understood. This review is aimed at summarizing the current knowledge on the physiological roles of different mammalian LOX-isoforms and their patho-physiological function in inflammatory, metabolic, hyperproliferative, neurodegenerative and infectious disorders. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Oxygenated metabolism of PUFA: analysis and biological relevance".
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, University Medicine Berlin - Charite, Chariteplatz 1, CCO-Building, Virchowweg 6, D-10117 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: hartmut.kuehn@charite.de.
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, University Medicine Berlin - Charite, Chariteplatz 1, CCO-Building, Virchowweg 6, D-10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Swathi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banthiya
authors.affiliation: Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts Genrel Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Leyen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058945:Lipoxygenases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D007527:Isoenzymes; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D058945:Lipoxygenases
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cancer; Eicosanoid; Infection; Inflammation; Stroke