leukotriener
Leukotrienes are a family of lipid inflammatory mediators derived from arachidonic acid. They are produced primarily by leukocytes such as neutrophils, eosinophils, mast cells, and macrophages through the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) pathway with the help of the 5-LOX activating protein (FLAP). The enzymatic sequence forms leukotriene A4 (LTA4), an unstable epoxide, which is then converted to either LTB4 by LTA4 hydrolase or to the cysteinyl leukotrienes LTC4 by LTC synthase; LTC4 is rapidly converted to LTD4 and LTE4 by further enzymatic cleavage.
LTB4 is a potent neutrophil chemoattractant and activator, acting through the BLT1 and BLT2 receptors. The
Clinical relevance of leukotrienes lies in their contribution to inflammatory airway diseases such as asthma and
Biomarkers such as urinary LTE4 reflect cysteinyl leukotriene production and are used in research and, to some