Biosynthesis of LTA3 occurs from 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid via the 5-LO pathway and it is the putative intermediate in the biosynthesis of 3-series leukotrienes. LTA3 as a free acid is highly unstable. The methylester is stable and can be readily hydrolyzed to the free acid as needed.
Lipoxin A4 methylester (LXA4 methylester) is a more lipid soluble, prodrug formulation of the transcellular metabolite LXA4. LXA4 is a trihydroxy fatty acid containing a conjugated tetraene, produced by the metabolism of 15-HETE or 15-HpETE with human leukocytes.[1] LXA4 is equipotent to leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in inducing superoxide generation in human neutrophils at 0.1 μM.[2] LXA4 is associated with several other biological functions including leukocyte activation, chemotaxis effects, natural killer cell inhibition, and monocyte migration and adhesion.[2],[3],[4]