The lipoxins are trihydroxy fatty acids containing a 7,9,11,13-conjugated tetraene. LipoxinA4 (LXA4) was first described as a metabolite of 15-HpETE and or 15-HETE when added in vitro to isolated human leukocytes. The material obtained in this manner consists of at least four distinct isomers: 5(S), 6(S); 5(S), 6(R); and the 11-trans and 11-cis isomers of each of these. 6(S)-LXA4 is one of the original four metabolites first identified by Serhan, Nicolaou, and Samuelsson. It was considered to be an artifact by these authors because it lacked the potency of the 5(S),6(R) isomer with respect to contraction of isolated guinea pig lung parenchymal strips. It has not been possible to isolate natural LXA4 from humans or other mammals in amounts sufficient for determination of absolute stereochemistry. Most authors refer to LXA4 as the 5(S)
Lipid-derived lipoxins are produced at the site of vascular and mucosal inflammation where they down-regulate polymorphonuclear leukocyte recruitment and function. 15(R)-LipoxinA4 (15(R)-LXA4) is derived from the aspirin-triggered formation of 15(R)-HETE from arachidonic acid. [1] [2] 15(R)-LXA4 inhibits LTB4-induced chemotaxis, adherence, and transmigration of neutrophils with twice the potency of LXA4 demonstrating activity in the nM range.[2] [3] The anti-inflammatory effects of aspirin may be ascribed in part to the ability of 15(R)-LXA4 to regulate leukocyte function.[4] 15(R)-LXA4 is reported to promote resolution of inflammation in LPS-treated stromal cells derived from intermediate-stage diseased supraspinatus tendons as evidenced by increased expression of the STAT-6 pathway target genes, ALOX15 and CD206.[5]